Ball

Just got home from the ball...only had two pictures taken with my camera but had some taken from a professional photographer that we will get next week. Nice evening. Good to get my stilettos out of the house. I'm sure they appreciated the outing.

Instant

Today I tried Starbucks Via, their new instant coffee. I had a free sample packet since we're one of the their test cities. Let me just say, I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. But definitely not brewed coffee...although I suspect if you're in the market for instant coffee, it's probably one of the better choices. Just not for me.

So big!

Adyson is getting so big! Here is a picture of her on St. Patrick's Day.

Wine, Cheese and Stench

I never thought cheese would make me want to vomit. Tonight I went out with Alison to celebrate her birthday. We got a cheese flight and all I can say is that I didn't care for most of what was entitled, "6 Cheeses You Can't Live Without." Hmm...but one in particular was so rancid we had to cover it with a dish and eventually ask for it to be removed. So my love for cheese does, indeed, know bounds...seems I learn something new about myself all the time. Other than that, it was a lovely evening. Happy Birthday, Alison!

Hello, Nice Weather!

It was about 70 degrees here late this afternoon...I know, I know, upper 70s in Missouri. (I'm sticking my tongue out at you - you know who you are.) I am so ready for spring and so are Crumley and Iris; we had a big walk tonight! But this morning, on my way to work, it was only about 50 degrees and I saw convertibles with the tops down and multiple gals wearing skirts with flip flops. Yup, the Chicagoans are jonesing for some Springtime weather. I really can't blame them. If I get a pedicure soon enough, I'll probably be wearing my flip flops, too. Until then, not wearing a winter coat is treat enough for me.

P.S. Just saw Obama's final four picks for the NCAA...and we picked exactly the same. Not that it's really outrageous or anything...3 out of my 4 picks are #1 seeds just like him. Hope I have a chance this year considering I have hardly kept up with basketball this season.

Irish Parade

I had high hopes of getting downtown yesterday to watch the river turn green. But I was far too exhausted yesterday morning...in fact, most of my weekend has been spent sleeping in late and napping. But in the St. Pat's spirit, Joe and I went to the Southside Irish Parade this afternoon which is pretty close to home. I had expected bag pipes and some Irish Dancing (I mean, Michael Flatley grew up just blocks from where we live.) but I had NO IDEA exactly how many bag pipers and dancers I would see. I truly lost count of all the troupes. It was unbelievable. And I was in the majority today...redheads were EVERWHERE. Today was a prime people-watching experience. I loved it! Oh, and Joe asked me if I felt like I was in the movie The Departed. Um, yes. Yes, I did. (And I saw Mr. Food which made my day! Although I don't think anyone else was as excited as me.)

Home Sweet Home

I'm home! Got home around 9:30 tonight and am exhausted. I think I worked 12 to 14-hour days every day this week and there was definitely a day in there where I went to bed and realized I'd never even been outside or left the hotel (which, I might add, used to house the Emmy's). Last night was my one and only adventure. Taina's mom picked me up and we hit the town; Nita was great! She took me to Hollywood Blvd (to see the sights and look at the Walk of Fame), Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, etc. Yay!!

Unfortunately, my trip was absent from any major movie star sightings...I did wash my hands at LAX this afternoon at the sink next to her. I would have been none-the-wiser but a bunch of teenager girls in the bathroom recognized her from Transformers and started squealing and asking for autographs. She was so nice to them and spent a good deal of time taking pictures and signing autographs (outside the bathroom!). That's all I've got...

Next to this street sign but not in the picture is Taina's favorite coffee shop. I had to stop in and have her favorite drink! It was cool to just walk around Hollywood and take in all the people!

Outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre. I got to see all the handprints and footprints of stars in cement.

Me at the entrance to Grauman's. Kodak Theatre - home of the Oscars!! I have seen this building on tv MANY times during all the red carpets I've watched.

Me and Nita (Taina's mom). If the Hollywood sign was lit up at night, you would be able to see it directly behind us.

Looks just like Oak Street (with palm trees) but I still had to see the original high-end fashion mecca for myself. And it's the home to one of my all-time-favorite shopping scenes from any movie - Pretty Woman!



Not that I had time to go inside (I wish I did!) but this was a really cool statue outside the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Disney Concert Hall - so cool!

LA

Tomorrow morning I'm leaving for LA (that's Los Angeles, not Louisiana). But don't expect to see me on an episode of The Hills anytime soon. I will likely be working from sun up to sun down every day and then crashing. As Monica put it, "it's kind of cruel to send Amy to LA, only for her to work the entire time." But I will deal. I am getting excited about some gorgeous weather for five days. I'll be back late on Friday night. I think I already miss Joe and Crumley (okay, and Iris, too). And I haven't even thought about packing...

Good news

My mom got the a-okay from the doctor today so she is back at work! But still awhile before she can be around Adyson. In a few weeks, when her thyroid is depleted, she'll go back and get her medicine.

Just another manic Monday...

Everyone knows my favorite thing to do on Mondays is to watch The Bachelor. But tonight was so stressful. I seriously feel stressed out now...I made the mistake of reading a spoiler online last night. And then I re-read it again in today's newspaper. I was pretty sure it was right on - and it was.

Yes, Jason proposed to Melissa and then changed his mind and then asked the girl he rejected, six weeks later, if they could try again. I am flabbergasted. It's not that I think Molly is a bad choice or a bad fit for Jason, I just can't believe he chose to end things with Melissa on national television or propose to her in the first place. If he was so conflicted (as he kept claiming) then why even propose? My husband was rooting for Melissa all along (as was I) so he refused to watch ATFR after he knew what was going to happen. And really, it was like watching a train wreck. I know, I know, every season I say I can't watch again and then I do. But I thought Jason was different.

Last season he was my absolute favorite and I was crushed when he didn't get picked. I was so thrilled for him to be "the bachelor" this season and have loved him...until now. I just have zero respect.

So I'm dying to know what my bachelor-watching friends think...did you watch? What do you think? (Rachel, Taina and I were definitely texting last night!)

Crumley gets a bath

Joe and I took this video last week of Crumley getting a bath. He hates bathtime and was hiding under the table when he knew what was about to happen. This was my pick for best documentary short.

Blueberry Muffins

So yesterday Jeni blogged about these blueberry muffins. They sounded great; I love blueberry muffins. Then I went to the grocery store today and saw "buy one, get one" for cartons of fresh blueberries. It seemed like a sign to me. So this is what I'm doing. The house smells amazing and I think they taste amazing, too.

A little bit of news

I've noticed that I blog less and less lately. Maybe it's because I don't have as much extra time anymore or maybe it's because I have nothing much to say. Probably a combination of both.

My mom went back to the doctor today, two weeks after her radioactive treatment and she still can't go back to work. So she will be off for another week and will go back to the doctor again next week to get the verdict. I'm sure at this point she's getting restless. She's used of talking to people every day and getting out and about. Some ladies from her church surprised her by painting her beauty salon yesterday and today. It's something she's been wanting to do but has never been able to get around to it. I am so grateful that my parents have so many people who care about them and are looking out for them.

On my agenda for the weekend is formal dress shopping. Yes, apparently I need a ball gown. Joe has a ball every year that he has to attend for work so I will be going this year. I think I hate formal dress shopping even more than swimsuit shopping...if that's possible. The dresses never seem to fit right. I didn't even like trying on wedding dresses and finally just selected my dress from online before ever trying it on. I am tempted to do that with this ocassion, too, so we'll see how it goes after I try on a few this weekend. I thought I'd at least get an idea of the style. But the event is just a few weeks away so I'd better get with it. (Nichole, you're good at dress shopping...you may need to be my stylist.) Of course, wearing the gown, getting all dressed up and having a night on the town is usually fun...it's just the getting there that I don't like. Figuring out which dress, what shoes, how to wear your hair, what jewelry...I just feel unmotivated to figure it out. I have also realized that the older I get, the less and less makeup I wear. Most days I barely wear any at all...when did I decide to not like shopping and not like makeup? Maybe it has something to do with shopping for pants that never seem to fit...

I am missing the documentary film festival in CoMo this weekend so I'm trying to push it out of my mind. Hmm...that means exactly one year ago, I got engaged.

Pizza and a movie

I'm not a fan of Chicago-style pizza, so I don't have as many pizza options around here as you might think. But today we went to a great pizza place that I've been wanting to go to for awhile...since about the time I first moved here. And we'll be back!

We also saw Coraline in 3-D today. I can't remember the last time I saw a 3-D movie...or if I even ever have. It was fun. Good movie. I wasn't looking as forward to it as Joe but really liked it.

So that was our playtime for the day. Now the dogs are getting baths and we're cleaning and doing laundry. Grown-up life continues.

Happenings

I went to hear a speaker tonight talk about the benefits of eating meat from grass-fed, grass-finished animals, particularly cattle. I joined my husband on a whim and it was actually very interesting. The downside is that after the talk, I don't want to eat meat at all...maybe that isn't a downside. Anyway, if you get a chance look up some information about his company.

My mom went back to the doctor today for a scan. Her radioactive idoine has successfully attached to the thyroid left in her body (there was some thyroid left as it wasn't all removed as originally thought) and she will have to do another round of treatment in 9 months. She is still in isolation.

Also my mom found out today that her regular cancer doctor has cancer. She has been my mom's doctor for more than 11 years and my mom follows up with her on a regular basis. It's so sad that she now is going through what she's helped so many other people overcome. This woman is amazingly kind. When I got married, she saw my announcement in Columbia, recognized my last name, cut out the announcement and mailed it to my mom.

Joe is still suffering a bad foot from an injury that happened almost a year ago. He had more x-rays this week and it's wrapped and in a boot for at least a week. Hopefully it finally heals.

That's all the news for this week...just in case I don't blog again, don't forget to watch the Oscars on Sunday!

President's Day...and love

Just about a month after starting my new job, I already get a day off tomorrow for President's Day. I've never had President's Day off before but I fully welcome the time off. Already, I feel like I've truly deserved it! I have big plans to sleep in, go grocery shopping and I might just go to a movie by myself...maybe a chick flick that I might not get around to right now otherwise. Joe will be working.

Also, I have so many magazines that have been sitting around with recipes inside. I finally bought a cute binder and am putting the recipes that I want to try or have tried and liked inside of it. Finally I will recycle my magazines and get rid of some clutter in the process. This is a project that I've been putting off for months but finally started on it today. This will also make life much easier when I'm searching for a recipe from a magazine...no more sifting through 4 or 5 magazines trying to remember which one it's in.

The other big news (and most important) is that my good friend, Dorian got engaged yesterday! I'm so excited for her. She and her fiance make such a great couple. You can check out her engagement story here.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Last night I hailed a cab after work and met Joe at Navy Pier where we saw Macbeth at the Shakespeare Theater. That's right. I saw Macbeth on Friday the 13th. I was a tad bit concerned but not concerned enough to not go. Joe has been foaming at the mouth to see this particular production, which they set in present-day Chicago. So when I found "buy one, get one" tickets, I knew we should snatch them up. The theater itself is beautiful and I really enjoyed the show. I liked the modern spin.

Tonight we're going to dinner. The last two years Joe and I have spent Valentine's Day apart so it's fun for us to actually be able to celebrate this year. I have been craving crab legs for about forever now so I think I may finally get my heart's desire. Happy Valentine's Day!

Tomorrow

Tomorrow my mom starts her radioactive iodine treatment for her thyroid cancer. She won't be able to work for a couple weeks, can't be around anyone under the age of 18 for three weeks (which obviously includes my niece), has to sleep in a separate room from my dad for awhile, can't prepare food, needs to be six feet away from dad while in the same room, etc. So, as you can imagine, it's not ideal. But it could be a lot worse. Mom will have to do another round of the radioactive iodine treatment in another six months to a year. Just keep her in your thoughts and prayers. I'm sure she'll be doing a lot of reading but I know she'll get bored.

Nothing Much

It was actually warm enough for me to wear a skirt today. This was quite a momentous ocassion and it is supposed to be even warmer tomorrow. I didn't think Chicago weather would bother me much since I was used to cold, Missouri weather. What I didn't take into consideration is that while there are some bitterly cold Missouri days they don't last the whole season like it seems Chicago's bitterly cold days do. It's just one snow fall after another...

I sign up for almost every news alert under the sun at work because I put together a weekly e-newsletter and am always on the lookout for relevent news headlines. So today I received this headline in my inbox, "Jobs Report: It's Worse Than It Looks." The article goes on to say that the economy almost certainly lost more jobs in January than the 597,000 reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics due to the way they imput their data. Anyway, I find this mind-boggling and stressful. My church just started a Career Networking Group open to the public led by professional career counselors and human resources folks in an attempt to help with resumes, networking, etc. I love this idea. It's one example of a way that a church can be relevant and do something to serve the needs of the community. And in church yesterday we were asked, by show of hands, how many people have either recently lost their jobs or knew someone that had lost their jobs. The show of hands was truly frightening. (Side note: one hospital here is laying off several hundred and another hospital here is laying off at least 450 and eliminating several hundred more jobs through attrition.)

On my way to church yesterday my car died at every stoplight. And there are a LOT of stoplights between my house and church. Finally, I figured out that if I put my car in neutral I could prevent it from dying. On the way home, without using neutral, my car didn't die one single time. Now, I'm not a mechanic but I don't think this is normal. So my husband will be taking me to the train and picking me up each day until we get this fixed. I don't have the energy to think about it right now...in a few days - maybe.

Girl Day

I met Alison and her friend, Celina at a Chicago favorite for breakfast today. After that we went back to Alison's place and decided to paint on canvas. I would share a picture of my art but if you saw what Celina and Alison did and then saw what I did - you'd probably laugh. So I'm just going to say that I had fun hanging out with the girls today and channeling trying to channel my creative side.

I then met Joe so we could get our taxes done. The fact that we got married this year and were filing jointly was easy. But the fact that I had no IL income and Joe did and I had MO income and Joe didn't was throwing off the computer...or our tax guy. Which makes me cringe a bit because I want to get it right - obviously. But we finally left our paperwork and will go back in a few days after our tax preparer can figure out why the computer wasn't letting him do what he wanted to do...we'll see.

We've also been seeing movies in preparation for my favorite day fo the year - the Oscars! Last night we finally saw Benjamin Button. Joe was pleasantly surprised as he wasn't necessarily looking forward to it. (The makeup and special effects still have me amazed!) Last weekend we saw Milk - really good - and The Wrestler. (Good story/acting but a bit too violent for me.) So now I think we just have two more to see and we're done. I think we can handle that.

Week at a glance

Little annoyances of the week:

• My neighbor shoveling snow at 5 am and waking me up. This seems to happen frequently.
• Walking to my office, passing electronic temperature signs reading "-11"...this also happens frequently.
• Going to look at a cute apartment in a great neighborhood with Joe and realizing it won't work for us. Goodbye claw foot tub. Goodbye skylight.
• When the person in the cubicle next to me hums or sings ALL. DAY. LONG.
• Running to catch my train.
• Running to catch my train and watching it as it pulls away from the station.
• Losing my hat at the train station.

Highlights of the week:

• My job and my first paycheck! Whoo hoo!
• Finally putting money back into savings!
• Eating Chipotle for the first time in over six months.
• Knowing that there is a Starbucks right across the street from my office, however dangerous that might be.
• Feeling good about abstaining from Starbucks.
• Getting good feedback at work despite the fact that I'm still overwhelmed.
• Really cherishing my time at home and with Joe.
• Watching movies this weekend!

Six-month anniversary

Tomorrow Joe and I will have been married for six months. It's hard to believe it's already been half a year that I've been a wife and gone from Columbia. I do believe my exact words while we were brushing our teeth this morning was, "Six months down, forty years to go." I hope so!

Baby news

I got word tonight that my friends Micah and Kevin had their baby Larson Dean around 5:25 pm. (And they went to the hospital around 4:30. No time for anything!) He weighed 7lbs 11oz and was 20 inches long. Everyone is doing well.

Non-menu menu

I am not making a menu this week because if I did, I suspect it would look something like this:

Monday: peanut butter sandwich
Tuesday: cereal
Wednesday: piece of fruit and whatever else I can find
Thursday: bag of microwave popcorn
Friday: take-out

I will still be cooking but probably just on the weekends. And I think Joe will be cooking mostly during the week or we'll just be eating on our own, whatever we find...it was fun while it lasted!

Three cheers for Joe

As I mentioned earlier, my husband sent me a beautiful bouquet of tulips to my office on my first day. He has been a huge help to me this week, too. Many of you probably know I am NOT a morning person. Joe has helped me by starting my car each morning, making my breakfast and making/packing my lunch. Those little things help me get out the door on time. And there's been dinner waiting for me each night when I get home, too. He's made all of this transition a little easier for me. I feel very lucky. And hopefully I find my groove soon with my new schedule!

The big day

I am so exhausted. First, I was too excited/nervous to sleep last night so I woke up at 2 am unable to go back to sleep. Second, my brain is not used of thinking so much. Here's how my day went. I started getting ready around 6 am. Left the house around 6:55 but not before I got my car stuck in the driveway and Joe had to push it out. (Did I mention this happened on Sunday, too?) I got to the train station about ten minutes later. I parked and waited amongst all the other commuters for another ten or so minutes. Then I boarded the train for the 30 minute ride. I got off downtown and walked a half a mile (while it was snowing - and right past the Sears Tower!) to my office building. My day was filled with orientation and back-to-back meetings. (The office was having inauguration festivities today but unfortunately I couldn't participate due to my meetings.) My new boss and coworker brought me flowers and chocolates for my first day and my husband sent me a bouquet as well. Even though it's so much easier than sitting in rush-hour traffic, I think the commute will be the hardest part for me. The train ride itself isn't that bad but it's all the waiting around before hand and getting to and from that make it a long, tedious process. Just something new for me to get used to but I'm sure I will soon enough. We ate frozen pizza tonight and I'm so tired that I think I may never cook during the week again. Did I mention how exhausted I am? Oh and I almost forgot the other exciting news. We got Joe a new (to us) car last night. Feels like a weight has been lifted from both of us just to be rid of his old car.

I work on the 31st floor of this building. How cool is that?

Joe insisted on taking my picture today. Kind of like the first day of school.

Change

Tomorrow Obama and I both start our new jobs. Joe and I took the train downtown today from the stop I'll be taking every day so that I could get myself oriented before tomorrow morning. It was cold but not too far of a walk for me. I think I'm ready!

Menu Plan Monday

This week will be a week of experimenting for us. I have no idea what time I'll take the train home each night or if I'll feel like cooking once I get here. But here's our tentative menu.


Monday: Pork chops with sour cream dill sauce and rice
Tuesday: Pizza
Wednesday: dinner out with my new coworkers
Thursday: Double corn polenta
Friday: gnocchi with pesto sauce

Out and about

On a whim, Joe and I decided that today was as good a day as any to take advantage of some of the fine theatre here. I wanted desperately to see Dirty Dancing but to no avail. Today was the final day of its run and no tickets were available. (Well, no tickets in our price range anyway.) Joe, on the other hand, was relieved. So we went to see the stage version of CS Lewis' The Screwtape Letters. It was very good and such a neat little theatre. And despite the cold frigid weather, I'm glad we went. Now if only I could get my feet to thaw out.

Variety news

Somebody's getting a variety show! Read all about it here.

Thoughts from the employed

I don't know if I can truly express how happy I am about this job. The market has been so tough and in just a few short weeks I've seen the amount of available jobs dry up right before my eyes. It was truly a lesson in patience. I am so thankful! I've spent the morning figuring out my train pass/schedule and also train parking. There's a lot involved to become a commuter! After not working for six months a lot will soon be changing. (I'm not complaining.) Below are just a few:

• My attire. Unfortunately for my husband, I haven't been dressing my best. Think sweat pants, pj pants, t-shirts, sweatshirts and Uggs or slippers with everything, 24-7. Oh, and I'll have to start wearing a bra. (TMI? Sorry!)


• My Monday morning shopping routine. I love shopping on Monday, picking up everything we need for the week. And the stores are practically empty.


• Doing random errands and being able to go to the mall or anywhere else I want to go.


• Hanging out with the dogs. (Crumley is my homeboy.)


• Getting the mail is usually the highlight of the day for me...I know it's sad.


• Transportation. I am already used of using very little gas but I will soon be taking the train downtown every day.


• My menu plans. I still want to cook but I'm not sure if it will be as routine as it has been.


• Getting up early. I don't sleep all day but I usually get up around 8:00, sometimes 8:30.


• Checking my email, Facebook and Perez Hilton 1,000 times a day. This will probaby be the hardest change of all! (Facebook Scrabble friends, please don't abandon me!)

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Fettuccine
Tuesday: Beef Tex-Mex Stir Fry
Wednesday: Black Bean & Corn Casserole
Thursday: leftovers
Friday: Pizza

Black Beans and Corn Casserole
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 cup chopped yellow onion
1/2 cup chopped red or green bell pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup corn, fresh or frozen
8 corn tortillas
4 cups grated Cheddar cheese
sour cream for serving

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm oil. Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Add tomato sauce, salsa, oregano, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Stir in beans and corn.

In a lightly sprayed or oiled 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish, spread one-third of the bean mixture evenly over the bottom of the dish. Lay 4 tortillas on top slightly overlapping. Add another one-third of the bean mixture and half of the cheese. Add 4 more tortillas, remaining bean mixture and top with remaining cheese. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until bubbly, about 10 minutes longer. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Cut into squares and serve with sour cream.

Movies and the Globes

It's the time of year when all the good movies get released and I'm in a rush to see them all...or as many as possible before the Academy Awards. We've seen some of the recent contenders: Rachel Getting Married, Slumdog Millionaire, Doubt, Frost/Nixon. So, yeah, I've seen some of the movies but there are still too many to see and too little time. Tonight is the Golden Globes. Even though it's not as prestigious as the Academy Awards, it might be my favorite awards show. It's a little more fun and laid back. So my afternoon will consist of watching the red carpet and then the show itself. Still on my list is: Revolutionary Road, The Reader, The Wrestler, Milk and Benjamin Button (maybe, I'm not thrilled at sitting in the theatre for three hours). We'll see how many I can fit in before February 22. Let me know if you've seen any contenders and what you think.

My snow dog

Crumley loves the snow and watching him play in it is so much fun. He likes to run and tumble and dive into it. Joe and I spent quite a while outside this morning just watching him and Iris play.

The best day ever!

Today my unemployment status ended. I have a job!! And it's even in my field. I'm rather excited if you can't tell. I start on January 20. Almost exactly six months to the day of leaving my job in Missouri and moving here. It's a happy New Year indeed!

Cookbooks

I'm dubbing yesterday as, "Cookbook Day" after I received two surprise cookbooks. First, my mother-in-law sent the new Barefoot Contessa book to me in the mail and then Alison gave me a Rachel Ray cookbook. What a coincidence, huh? I love thumbing through cookbooks and even read them in bed before falling asleep. I'm also quite fond of watching the Food Network. (I love Giada but don't have any of her books.) Who are your favorite chefs and do you have any favorite cookbooks that I should check out?

Pizza's in the oven

Alison (once again) hooked us up with tickets to see a play tonight. The timing was also great because Joe has class. The plan was to have dinner ready when Joe came home, we'd eat, I'd take him to class (we're sharing a car these days) and then I'd go meet Alison. I was making this. I have no idea what possessed me. It doesn't look like something I'd normally attempt but for some reason it sounded good - and unique. I put it in the oven and after 35 min it still wasn't done. After 45 min, I still had my doubts. And the shredded potatoes didn't look so crispy and great like Rachel's potatoes. In fact, they kind of looked green. Joe was being a good sport and so I served us both a piece and we sat down at the table. I took a bite. I hated it. And then Joe took a bite. And without saying much else we put our forks down and the pie went straight in the garbage. Thankfully there's still time for a frozen pizza and it's in the oven. Now I've made some things that we haven't been crazy about but I think this goes down in history as my very first inedible meal. Whew! Got that one out of the way.

Big shoes to fill

One of my initial concerns about getting married and moving to Chicago was The Bachelor. (Okay, so maybe that wasn't a deal-breaker.) But I had become quite accustomed to watching it with Taina and Rachel and was pretty sad about not getting to do that anymore. Joe stepped up to the plate and promised (along with his vows to love, honor and cherish) he'd be my new Bachelor-buddy. Well, I've kept him to his word. We watched the always-exciting premier last night. And, yes, he tried to leave the room a few times and made a little too much fun but I was glad to have the company. Now I just have to hear thoughts from the girls.

Menu Plan Monday

If it seems like we have pizza every week that's because we do. Almost. It's my husband's favorite food, it's quick, it's easy and it tastes great. I guess pizza is a good standby for us each week. What about you? Does your weekly menu feature a "regular" meal?

Monday: Shredded beef tacos (Nichole's recipe)

Tuesday: German Potato Pie

Wednesday: Chili and cornbread

Thursday: Pizza

Friday: Baked fish and veggies

One More

Here's one more photo from the holidays that Joe took. Adyson and I were chillin' on the couch probably after eating way too much food. Her outfit is courtesy of Uncle Joe and Aunt Amy.

Say it isn't so

It's New Year's Eve and we have no plans. Nada. Zilch. Zip. Nothing.

In recent years, we've gone to dinner or a show. But I think tonight we're going to be low-key and take it easy. Maybe tomorrow we'll catch a movie. Joe is sick and I think some time at home, on the couch, sounds like a good plan for us.

I can hardly believe that tomorrow is 2009. I haven't even begun to think of any resolutions and I probably won't. My friend Laura posted about ditching resolutions and instead making a list of things you'd like to do. Great idea! Read it here.

Happy New Year!

The Christmas Angel

I did a bad job at documenting Christmas but here's one of Adyson opening one of her gifts. She did a pretty good job but by the time we opened our gifts that evening she'd already had a long, full day. When she started sleepily, stumbling around we had to put her down for a nap and we all resumed with our gift opening. I think some of her favorite gifts were Little People. She's also really into "tricks" and doing what she can (when she's not sleepy) to make people laugh. One of her tricks is to shake her head, grimace and curl her arms under like a muscle man. I have no idea where she came up with this but it had us rolling.

Menu Plan Monday

Whenever we are out of town we kennel our dogs which is anything but cheap. So I was especially pleased today when I went to the grocery store and spent a record low amount. And New Year's Eve is this week but I'm not sure what it will bring. No plans so far. It's likely we will just be at home snacking and watching movies.

Monday: leftovers (beef polenta pie)
Tuesday: out (Joe's friends visiting)
Wednesday: New Years Eve?
Thursday: lemon chicken with rice
Friday: pizza
Saturday: quiche
Sunday: veggie pasta primavera

Recovering

My mom and I both woke up on the day of Lea's service, in the wee hours of the morning, with a stomach virus. Mom's seemed to be much, much more severe and confined her to bed but by the time of the service my symptoms had subsided so I was feeling well enough to go. I'm sure I contaminated all sorts of people but since I was feeling better I just couldn't not go. I was sad to miss the family luncheon but knew there was no way I could eat and Joe wasn't feeling great himself so we made the long trip home before he was totally sick, too. I seemed to get a little worse during the drive but after sleeping about twelve hours last night I think I'm on the mend...still not eating more than crackers yet. I think EVERYONE has had this bug.

Leangela

Christmas was hard. We all seemed to go through the motions but were still in shock from Lea's passing. It's been a hard week on everyone. I've been thinking nonstop about my cousin. She put on such a brave face that I think none of us really knew how sick she was. My heart and my gut told me she wasn't well but I don't think I knew it was so dire.

I could share so many memories about her that I wouldn't know where to stop but here are just a few: Growing up, I named one of my favorite dolls SueLea after my cousins, Sue and Lea. Lea refused to call my doll by her given name and instead chose to call her LeaSue so that she could get top-billing. One of my favorite memories is of us taking her car to get traded in when we were both much younger and we found out that an entire mouse nest had been living under her driver's seat. I still get chills thinking about it! She made the best mashed potatoes out of anyone I knew. And I don't think she ever called me by my first name alone. She always called me, "Amy Jean" every time she saw me. She was bubbly and happy and beyond generous. She loved life and really enjoyed herself. Her passing leaves a huge void. Life surely won't be the same.

Friday night, I spent some time at my parent's house looking through old photo albums and found some great pictures of us as kids. I hope to scan a few and would like to post them sometime.

I think the hardest part about blogging is opening yourself up when you don't want to. It's sharing the bad times instead of all the good, fun, happy times. But it doesn't seem fair to leave out the things that really matter. How can you just go about your business as if nothing is wrong and nothing bad has happened?

Today my cousin Lea died. She was 36. She had breast cancer. She leaves behind a husband, two boys and a family that loved her very much. She was loud, outgoing, energetic and vibrant. She had more friends than just about anyone. And I will miss her very, very much. Beyond that, I'm not sure what else to say.

A lucky day

With the slumping economy, seems like everyone is tightening their belts these days. We have cut back on a lot of the extras and one of them is eating out. Tonight we made an exception and went to a local Chinese restaurant. When we got our bill our waiter brought us a box of tea and said, "Merry Christmas" or maybe it was, "Happy Holidays" but either way it was totally unexpected and very nice. Then while we were paying our check he brought back a fancy red envelope. He explained that inside was a gift card for $20. No strings attached. Just another way that the restaurant was wishing their patrons well during the holidays. Wow. Joe and I were both stunned. And maybe they're on to something. With so many cutting back on things like eating out, what a great way to get people to come back or to think of them first when they do go out to eat.

But that's not all. Just before we left the house tonight, Joe opened our gas bill and found we had been credited for $700. Seems that since he has lived here he's been overpaying each month. This is due to the fact that our meter is inside and he's always away at work when they come to read it, so they estimate. Now that I'm home, the meter man/lady can come anytime. So we don't have a gas bill for a few months. And Joe called just to double check that it wasn't a mistake. Needless to say, we felt like our luck had turned even if it was just for the evening. In fact, we stopped to buy a couple lottery tickets. Something we NEVER do. But maybe this is our lucky day...or maybe it was just a good day.

Results

Many of you have already been checking in with me to ask about my mom's test results. Mom received her test results today and it was thyroid cancer. So she'll be traveling a lot in the coming weeks for more tests, scans and treatment. Please keep her and my dad in your prayers.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Sloppy Joe's on French Bread
Tuesday: Quinoa and Black Beans
Wednesday: Poppyseed Chicken (Nichole's recipe)
Thursday: leftovers
Friday: Homemade Pizza Margherita

Mom update

We had to be at the hospital early this morning for mom's surgery. After they got started, we made the decision to have all of her thyroid removed instead of half; the masses were pretty large. And in retrospect, we made a good decision. They suspect she'll be here for two nights. It was so comforting to have many friends check in on me and to see familiar faces. Also comforting were my friends who work at the hospital, especially those from church. Makes you feel good to know the people who will be helping to take care of someone you love. Thanks for all the text messages, calls, prayers and thoughts.

Mom

My mom is having surgery on Friday to remove half of her thyroid. I'll be traveling to Columbia to stay with her while she's in the hospital for her surgery and recovery. Please keep her in your prayers.

Menu Plan Monday

Another week, another menu. I'll be going out of town (again!) this week so it's a short menu. Likely, Joe will eat pizza every single day while I'm gone and I'm not even kidding.

Monday: Zesty Italian Casserole
Tuesday: chicken and dumplings
Wednesday: tikka masala

Zesty Italian Casserole
1 lb lean ground beef
1 1/2 c. spaghetti sauce
1/2 c. sour cream
1/3 c. parmeasan grated cheese
1 clove crushed garlic
1/4 chopped onion
6 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 (8 oz) can crescent rolls
2 T. melted butter

Heat oven to 375 degrees. In large skillet brown beef, onion and garlic; drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce and heat thoroughly. In medium bow, stir together mozzarella cheese and sour cream. Pour meat mixture into a 2 qt. baking dish. Spoon cheese mixture over meat. Unroll crescent roll dough and spread over cheese mixture. Sprinkle parmeasan cheese and butter evenly on top. Bake 18 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.

In the spirit

There are days where I just want to wallow in my own self pity. I hate being jobless. I hate thinking about the economy. And if I really let it, it will get the best of me. So while I seem to be trapped in my own Groundhog Day, I try my best to keep moving. So in between the job searching and other household duties, I decided today to make our home festive for the holidays.

Last year I got rid of my old artificial tree and didn't even bother with one. I vowed to buy a nice one this year. But this year there's no way we're spending money on a nice, new artificial tree so I went out to the garage today to dig out Joe's tree. I actually love it. It's vintage-looking and super cute. I also put out a few decorations and tonight I'm baking Christmas cookies. Just a few things to get into the holiday spirit. And honestly, it helps. Now if I just had a little hot coco and some Bing Crosby I'd be set.

Our quilt

Joe's Aunt Judy made a beautiful quilt for us so I had to share it. (She's a master quilter. Check out her blog.)(That's Judy and Devin with Joe and me. And don't forget Milo who is front and center.)

Also, I was able to see a quilt that Joe's grandmother made years ago using old neckties belonging to his dad and grandfather. Beautiful!

Thanksgiving

Thursday morning we made the long trip to the Puget Sound to see Joe's family. I'll have to say that being a midwestern girl it seems like you've left the country by the time you finally reach the Pacific Northwest. We got up at 4 am, left the house around 5 am and got to the airport around 6 am. We boarded our four and a half hour flight and finally arrived at SeaTac. We then took a shuttle from the airport to the ferry at Mukilteo, took a 15 minute ferry ride and finally arrived on Whidbey Island with another 40-45 minutes to Joe's Aunt Judy and Uncle Jim's house.

I'm not a big fan of all of the travel but the trip itself was great and so worth it. We had a wonderful time seeing Joe's dad and Lynn, Joe's Aunt Judy and Uncle Jim, Cousin Devin and Grandma Dorothy. We ate (too much!), enjoyed the company and scenery, played games and watched movies.

Yesterday we traveled for eleven hours before making it home. Joe and I got on the plane and we were both in a rather good mood. While we prepared for take-off we were flipping through the SkyMall magazine and ocassionally commenting on the unusual items we saw. Just after we took off the girl in front of us slammed her seat back into Joe's legs and then turned around and in the rudest possible way basically told us to shut up. I was dumbfounded. First of all, we weren't being loud. The alternative was for us to not talk at all. Second of all, we just took off. I could understand her frustration (maybe) if we were still being chatty 3 hours into the flight...but 5-10 minutes? And thirdly, if she would have waited a few more minutes before being rude to us, she would have just been able to use her iPod and the problem would have been solved. They announced you were free to use electronic devices moments later and she did. I guess my point is, I don't understand why people are so hateful and rude. If we were really bothering her she could have talked to us politely and maturely. I have never ever wished for a screaming child in my lap until that very moment. Needless to say, the rest of the flight was interesting. I now can see how people get thrown off airplanes and get into brawls over no good reason.

Okay...I'm stepping off my soapbox now. Enjoy the photos!

Menu Plan Monday

We've been traveling (and will be on the road later today) so I haven't had much time to think about meals for this week. It will likely be quick and easy cooking while we get laundry and the house back in order.

Monday: traveling all day

Tuesday: pizza

Wednesday: tuna noodle casserole (Strangely, I've been craving this.)

Thursday: pork chops and peas

Friday: pierogi

Feeling the love

My friends are so cool. Monica and Breanne (and Grayson, too) came to visit for a few days. They surprised me with treats from "home." One of which was a cooler full of Shakespeare's. We did a LOT of eating at home, played some Scrabble and went to the mall one afternoon. We also went to the Chicago History Museum to see a special exhibit. Fun times! Tomorrow Joe and I are headed to the Puget Sound for Thanksgiving and will be gone for several days. Happy Thanksgiving!

Crustless Spinach Quiche

Monica asked for this recipe so I thought I'd share it for everyone. It turned out to be a very easy and very good breakfast.

2 large eggs
1 cup cottage cheese
4 green onions
1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup grated Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup whole milk (I used skim)
1/2 package (5 ounces) frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1/4 teaspoon salt
freshly ground pepper to taste
2 to 3 drops Tabasco sauce

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, whisk egg. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Spread into a lightly sprayed or oiled 9-inch glass pie plate. Bake until set and bubbly, about 55 minutes. (Mine took much less time.) Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Cut into wedges to serve.

Menu Plan Monday

This is a short week for us. We are leaving on Thursday for our Thanksgiving which will take us to the Pacific Northwest for several days. Until then, we do have company (yay!) for a couple of days. I also made a spinach quiche for breakfast today (more on that later) and Joe made an awesome chocolate cake for us to nibble on.

Monday: chicken curry with jasmine rice

Tuesday: beef and noodles with homemade rolls

Wednesday: pizza

Mmm...

We had Spinach Enchiladas tonight and I was quite pleased with the results. Below is the recipe:

1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup sliced green onions
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (10 ounce) package of frozen spinach, thawed,
drained and squeezed dry
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
10 (6 inch) corn tortillas
1 (19 ounce) can enchilada sauce

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and onion; cook for a few minutes until fragrant but not brown. Stir in spinach and cook for about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and mix in ricotta cheese, sour cream and 1 cup of Monterey Jack cheese.

In a skillet over medium heat, warm tortillas one at a time until flexible, about 15 seconds. Spoon about 1/4 cup of the spinach mixture onto the center of each tortill. Roll up and place seam side down in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Pour enchilada sauce over the top and sprinkle with the remaining cup of Monterey Jack.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven until sauce is bubbling and cheese is lightly browned at the edges.

Thoughts about Matt

It was terribly cold walking from the train to the venue. And I spent waaay too much for a drink. And, no, I wasn't as close to Matt as I'd been in the past. But when he started singing Jesse's Girl and talking about poop, I felt strangely at home. I laughed at his crazy hair. I swooned. I reminisced. I remembered that the last show I went to was when my sister was in labor and I kept checking my phone, waiting for the call. I thought about all the guys I knew who had played his songs on their acoustic guitars. Then there was that time I met him and he told me I was cute. And when he yelled at the crowd I laughed and thought about all the times he'd done that before. It wasn't until he said, "Are you ready Chicago?" that I felt like an outsider. Is this really my town? Do I really live here? A lot of days I still feel like a visitor. It's really a strange feeling. There are days I think it's about time for me to head back to Columbia and go back to my old apartment and job...and then I remember - I live here. It's crazy. I like it. I'm just not quite used to it yet. P.S. I missed you, B.

Something to look forward to

I get to see one of my very favorite people/concerts tonight - Matt Nathanson! (Props to Alison for the sweet hook up.) I've seen him six, seven times? Anyway, it will be a little weird for me to not be seeing him in Columbia. I wonder how the vibe will be tonight. I'm used of his intimate little shows and his banter with the crowd. Hopefully that still happens.

Calling all moms...and buyers of all things cute

Looking for a Christmas gift? Gift for a new baby? Something to keep your kids warm? My very talented friend Cristin has homemade items for sale. Go here for more details.

Weekend update

Saturday was Joe's birthday. His mom and stepdad, Ed came into town for the weekend festivities. We had a great time with them and I planned on taking pictures but managed to forget my camera when we went out on Saturday...and then I just kept forgetting. In typical Joe-fashion, his only request for his birthday weekend (aside from the cake) was to eat pizza and see a movie. We did manage to have a fabulous dinner on Saturday night. And surprisingly enough, the dogs were very well-behaved for our guests. It was a very nice weekend.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: fajitas and spanish rice

Tuesday: leftovers

Wednesday: bacon, eggs and toast

Thursday: tilapia and sweet potatoes

Friday: spinach enchiladas

Saturday: leftovers

Sunday: (company) chili, creamy avacado dip with veggies, cornbread

Pineapple upside down cake

Um, I made this. That's it. Just wanted everyone to know.

Just something to think about

Nichole shared this, What I'd Like for You to Know link today from Rocks in My Dryer. After reading it I had to share it, too. While it's true that I'm married, I am a newlywed and still can identify strongly with what the blog says. I got married a month and a half shy of my thirty-first birthday and spent most of my adult life thus far without a significant other. Even when Joe and I were dating and engaged we spent most of that time six hours apart. No, I wasn't longing for motherhood but could relate on so many other levels. Yes, I've heard the "What's wrong with you?" or "You must be picky." I remember being told once, "You go out too much" as if that was such a horrible thing. Without the movies, concerts and dinners with my friends I would just be home alone. All by myself. And after those two-hour movies, concerts or dinners I was alone enough - most of the time. I have been so lucky to have amazing friends who let me tag along with them and their husbands/boyfriends/kids, blessed to have other awesome single girlfriends and just awesome friends in general. (You know who you are.) Anyway, my point is, I really hope everyone reads this blog. I found it very touching and true.

Trying to look on the bright side

Remember this? Just a week ago, my car was in the shop. Yesterday we took Joe's car in after smoke started coming out of the hood. The garage called today and said the problem was much bigger than they can handle so this afternoon we're off to pick up the car and take it to the dealer. I know that there are people out there who have problems far bigger than I will ever have but I can't help but be down about this string of bad luck. The car trouble, the job trouble, the lack of income trouble...I need help being positive. I'm afraid I'm turning into a Debbie Downer these days which is probably why I haven't been blogging as much this week. Sigh.

Menu Plan Monday

It's a special week here. Joe's mom is coming to town this weekend and it's Joe's birthday. I will also be making a pineapple upside down cake for the ocassion. Wish me luck!

Monday: potato curry
Tuesday: leftovers
Wednesday: red beans & rice, cornbread
Thursday: butternut squash soup
Friday: pizza (out)
Saturday: dinner out (Joe's birthday!)
Sunday: meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans

A day that would make Martha proud

In a quest to meet new people and to cultivate my "Martha" skills, I went to a luncheon hosted by my church today. (Alison came, too.) It wasn't just a regular luncheon though. There was an expert guest speaker who gave cooking demonstrations and talked about how to cook the perfect turkey. And then there was a segment on napkin folding and another on flower arranging/table decorating. Anyway, it was a very nice time. And the luncheon? Delicious. And I even met a few new people and have all sorts of new recipes to try out. I also feel very motivated to cook a turkey now. I came home to find my husband cleaning the house, baking dinner rolls and accomplishing all sorts of things. It's time to put my feet up and enjoy the rest of this Saturday!

A healthy night

I'm always on the lookout for tasty vegetarian options and try to make sure we have a vegetarian night at least once a week. Joe gave extra kudos to tonight's selection.

Quinoa and Black Beans

1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
3/4 cup uncooked quinoa
1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion and garlic, and saute until lightly browned.

Mix quinoa into the saucepan and cover with vegetable broth. Season with cumin, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes.

Stir frozen corn into the saucepan, and continue to simmer about 5 minutes until heated through. Mix in the black beans and cilantro.

Woe is me...and my car

I went to the mall today to drop off an application (yes, I'm applying for part-time jobs, too, now) and when I pulled in the driveway I heard a weird sound. I listened. It seemed to be coming from my car. That's when I noticed green liquid spilling out from underneath my car all over the driveway. I pulled my hood and decided to take a look (yes, I even surprise myself sometimes). It was my antifreeze. I decided to take a closer look and took the cap off. (I managed to lose said cap - never to be seen again.) And I called my dad for some help. Finally the car cooled down and was almost empty of coolant so I added water and headed to the nearest garage. Long story short - it doesn't look good. And I need a job. Desperately.

Adyson the bee

Adyson was a bumblebee for Halloween. Here are a couple pictures of the cutie.

Election excitement

Don't forget to wear your "I voted" sticker to your local Krispy Kreme today and pick up a free donut...or get your free cup of coffee at Starbucks...or your free scoop of ice cream at Ben & Jerry's. Wow - there are a lot of incentives today. Yes, I did vote. And I did get my Starbucks.

Four years ago, I voted absentee and was off gallivanting around Italy with my friend, Monica. I felt really out of the loop on election day. We went to an election watch party (or so we thought) in Bologna to watch the election happenings. Granted, there was a huge time difference but even still all the coverage was in Italian. I couldn't understand a thing and Monica was only picking up a few words and phrases here and there. The place was so packed we were sitting on the very cold floor and I was shivering and falling asleep in public. Sometime in the middle of the night we went back to someones house (an expat who was a friend of a friend of a friend or something like that) and fell asleep on the floor of a strange Italian apartment in Bologna before getting up a couple hours later at the crack of dawn. I remember us picking up an Italian newspaper that morning at the train station and trying (or Monica trying) to decipher whether or not we had a new president. We got the gist - no. By the time I got home more than a week later, all the election excitement had died down and I saw none of the coverage.

This election will be different. Joe and I will be home watching and snacking in the comfort of our own home. This is a very exciting time in our history but I'm also ready to move on. I'm kind of tired of all the election excitement.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: hamburger/macaroni/tomato casserole
Tuesday: corn chowder
Wednesday: leftovers
Thursday: quinoa and black beans
Friday: pot roast & veggies