One hundred and five

Today I'm wishing my Great Aunt Grace a happy 105th birthday. Aunt Grace went into the nursing home shortly after her birthday last year and now she may or may not know us at times but she is still a much treasured and much loved family member. Happy birthday, Aunt Grace!

Chicken and Sugar Snap Pea Curry

I'm a big fan of curry so tonight I tried a recipe from this week's food section in the newspaper. Turned out well so I thought I'd share.

Chicken and Sugar Snap Pea Curry

SAUCE
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 cup onion, diced
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon jalapeno pepper, minced
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
1 (14-ounce) can light coconut milk
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

CHICKEN
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon ground coriander
2 cups fresh sugar snap peas

For sauce: In medium saucepan over medium-low heat, warm canola oil. Add onion, curry powder, chili powder, jalapeno pepper and ginger. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent (about 4 minutes). Add drained tomatoes, coconut milk, salt and pepper. Increase heat to medium high and bring mixture to a boil; lower heat to simmer and cook until sauce has thickened (about 10 minutes). Remove from heat and set aside.

For chicken: Add canola oil to a wok or stir-fry pan and place over high heat. When oil is hot, add chicken slices and coriander, stirring constantly. Cook chicken until almost done (about 5 to 7 minutes) and add sugar snap peas. Continue to cook, stirring, 3 minutes.

Combine chicken and curry sauce mixture; simmer 3 to 5 minutes to blend flavors. Serve over rice.

Munch

Joe and I went to the Art Institute this afternoon to see the Edvard Munch exhibit. I think I had just expected to see lots of oil paintings and was surprised by how many lithographs and woodcuts he did. My friend Laura just went a couple days ago and said it was different than she expected. I think it was different than I expected, too, but I'm not really sure what I mean by that. Some of the work seemed very "Scream-like" and some seemed so vastly different. There were also lots of redheads featured in his work...maybe I'm the only one who noticed that? Anyway, like Laura, it wasn't my favorite exhibit but it was a good way to spend a cold, wet Sunday afternoon.

Saturday Stuff

Joe and I have been debating something very serious since before we got married - XBox 360 or Nintendo Wii? He wanted the 360 and I said if we got a Wii I'd use it, too. This discussion has just been ongoing. But last night we decided to go for the Wii. We got it hooked up pretty late so have been playing this morning. The dogs think we are crazy.

Also I am so excited that The Tigers are in the Elite 8. Up until now, I haven't seen any of their games on tv (just online) because they never show MU games here. Our local station keeps electing to play a different game at the same time...that's something I just always took for granted before. But today, I finally get to see the game on tv. I don't even care that my bracket is a mess. Go Tigers!!

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.