I'm Awesome

Since it's already halfway through August (how the hell did that happen?) I thought maybe I'd update on the "Shit I'd Like to Happen in 2012" list. Without further ado:

1. Finish grad school - Check!

2. Go to church more - I started off pretty good and then...didn't. Le sigh, it's a constant internal battle.

3. Get a better job - still working on this one. I've had a couple leads, interviews, etc. but nothing fantastic has panned out. Still sending out resumes like a madwoman though.

4. Get knocked up - this has obviously not happened yet. This is entirely dependent upon numero 3.

5. Get in better shape - LOL, this is interesting. So like everyone else in the world, I started doing c25k in January which didn't go so well. I never got past Week 1 Day 3. BUT. Oh, there's a but. But then I finished school and suddenly had all the time in the world to sit on my ass so my Yankee friend was all, "get up, you're coming to the gym." And I was all, "no." But then I did go and I didn't die. And then a few days later I went back and she was like, "you're starting c25k again." And I was like, "no." But I did start it that day and I really thought I was going to die. But I didn't die! And I didn't die the next day either. And for the past two months I've been at the gym 3 times a week and (drumroll please), I just started WEEK 5 of the app. I know, I don't know who I am either.

6. Do more for "me" - this has gone pretty well! I've definitely been more adventurous in the kitchen, have gotten pedicures on the regular, spent more time with friends & family, and read some great books. I've also attempted to redo a few things in the house which has been fun! And I totes weeded the garden last week. My husband had a small stroke.

So 3/6 is not bad, people! And I still have 4 1/2 months to round out this fun little list. Go me! 

Coffee

I've decided that the way I take my coffee and the day of the week directly correlates with each other.  This revelation was stumbled upon one bright Monday morning when I (shockingly) did not want to come to work and was even more annoyed about work when I arrived to find out that there was no more creamer. So I just added two Splenda to a black cup and hoped for the best.

Surprisingly, it wasn't bad. (Some may think that this is headed into a "I'm giving up ALL THE CREAM to be healthy!" direction but trust me, it's not.)

As I was sipping my black with 2 Splenda cup, I realized that my cup of coffee was very reflective of Monday. So here's what I came up with:

• Monday - black with 2 sugars. no cream because Monday usually sucks unlike cream which most definitely does not suck.

• Tuesday - probably a follow up of Monday but possible a splash of fat free half and half if things ended on an ok note on Monday

• Wednesday - aka hump day. Wednesday coffee definitely has more than just a splash of fat free half and half. More like a dollap. Weekend is near.

• Thursday - holla! Friday eve! Thursday is a full fat half and half day for sure.

• Friday - hallow, weekend! Bust out the flavored creamer, people.

• Sat & Sun - oh sweet weekend coffee. How I live for you. On the weekends I make more in the pot so I can have an extra large cup full yummy coffee flavored with caramel macchiato creamer. If I'm feeling real fancy, I jet on over to CC's around 2pm for a caramel iced coffee too. (and then proceed to stay up like a rabid squirrel for the next 12 hours but that's another story.)

So there we have it. Days of the week coffee. It's creepy how accurate that is.

*I know, where have I been?! It's all ::silence:: and then bam! Coffee! How random is that?!

Chicken & Tomato Pasta

I threw this together the other night after a long day of shopping with the girl. It was on the table in under an hour which is totally my kind of meal. And it was delicious. I was uber excited that MrShoe had a meeting the next night because that meant I got the leftovers all to myself. Nom nom nom...

Chicken & Tomato Pasta
From: Gina's Skinny Recipes

Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts
salt
pepper
dried oregano
garlic powder
olive oil
6 garlic cloves, diced
2 c grape tomatoes, halved
fresh basil
16 oz thin spaghetti noodles

Boil noodles in salted water and reserve 1-2 cups of pasta water before draining. Set aside.

Season chicken to your liking (I love garlic) and cube into bite size pieces. In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, heat up some olive oil and cook the chicken until it is no longer pink. Take out and set aside.

Saute garlic until golden brown and fragrant. Throw in tomatoes and cook until they are just falling apart. Season with salt and pepper. Take some fresh basil and chiffonade it (I love that word; it makes me feel fancy). Throw the basil in and let cook for a couple minutes. Throw in the chicken and fold all together, cooking the chicken all the way through.

Go back to your pasta and pour some pasta water over it if it's dry. Add pasta to the pan and fold some more. Send me the leftovers.

Enjoy.

::throws confetti::

Happy birthday to meeeee!!!*

*Ok, actually it was last week but I've been busy. Sue me.

It's a bittersweet one this year for sure. I'm 29 (yikes!) so the last year of my twenties. I had every intention of doing a whole 30 till I'm 30 list however I 1) have no time and 2) couldn't think of 30 things and 3) wouldn't when you're turning 20 be a good time to start all that?

But back to number 2.

I really have accomplished quite a bit in my twenties that I'm happy about. I married the most awesome man evah (who is currently sporting a beard which he's never done before. momma like.) and we have a gorgeous, funny, smart kid together. She's a win for our genes for sure. We bought a house four years ago which we have successfully turned into a home. I partied my ass off in college but managed to squeeze out a bachelor's degree. Then went back and did it right the second time with my Master's. I've learned to cook better and not freak out quite so much over the little things. I got my first real job and bought my first real car (and my first real minivan). Overall, my twenties have been very, very good to me.

There are only a few things that I haven't done that I wish I had. The big one is travel abroad. I've never been out of the country and that's huge for me. I'm already looking at a trip to Greece. Maybe sometime in the next few years if we can get our funds straight. The other big thing is my career. I have one so that's saying something but it's just not exactly where I'd like it to be. However I still have 365 days to rectify that one so fingers crossed!

I'm celebrating tomorrow night with some of my very best girlfriends so everyone pour out some tequila and drink to my twenties. Ole!

Scary Shit

So I had the scare of my life this week. The heat sensor in our attic went off one afternoon which triggered our alarm company to send me an automated email that says something along the lines of "Your heat sensor went off. Possible fire. Have a nice day."

So I did the obvious thing which was to freak the fuck out and call 911 because my dogs are in there. I raced home at record speed, crying to my husband and mom (not at the same time) that I had burned down our house and killed our dogs. That went over really well. I just knew it was my fault because if leaving your straight iron on was an Olympic sport, I'd be the gold medalist.

Thankfully, my house was not on fire and my doggies were fine. Kudos to the fire department. They got there in record time, suited up, ready to save my doggies and my house. Praise Buddha that they had to do none of the above. I've never been so happy to arrive at my dirty, but still standing, home.

Apparently my heat sensor is "malfunctioning". Ya think? It's gone off 3 more times since then (I was home this time) and there was obviously no fire. So they are coming out tomorrow to look at it.

Moral of the story: unplug your hair stuff and get your alarm equipment looked at every few years. And live one block from a fire department. I think I need to make them cookies or something.

Hummus wraps

These are flipping delicious. We had them for dinner last night and all I can think about right now is how excited I am to have them again. Totally adaptable with whatever makes your skirt fly up.

Ingredients:
tortillas
roasted red pepper hummus
romaine lettuce
grilled chicken breast, sliced
tomatoes, sliced

Spread hummus on tortilla. Add lettuce, chicken, and tomatoes. Roll up. Enjoy. Eat another one.

The depression that's not really a depression. Part 1

Hello again. I realize my sporadic posts are...sporadic. I've been in somewhat of a funky depression lately. Except it's not full blown depression with doctors and medication, not that there's anything wrong with that. It's more...blah. And I can't seem to get out of it which is beyond redonkulous because seriously, my life is pretty darn good right now. I have a great husband and a funny daughter and I'm done with school so no more papers or studying until 3am. My mom and I are finally getting along and I'm doing all kinds of fun stuff with my kid.

And yet this is somewhat part of the problem? I think? I'm so glad to be done with school that I have no desire to do anything around the house. Dishes, laundry, picking up, sweeping...nope. Not going to happen. Except I hate a dirty house like wHoa. It doesn't help that the girl got spoiled by he who shall not be named (ahem, her father) while I was in night class. He would let her fall asleep in our bed at night instead of putting her in her own bed. So now I'm trying to break that. Thankfully, she will sleep in her bed if we go put her in there so it could be worse but I have to lay down with her first and basically, once my body touches that sweet mattress, my brain is all BEDTIME FOR EVERYONE and there's just no combating that. So the house goes untouched. As does my thank you notes. And my job applications because I REALLY can't do those at work. I mean, I can get away with a lot of crap here (like blogging sporadically) but my momma did not raise a fool. Don't apply for new jobs at your current job, kids. It's a bad idea.

Which leads into the next level of blah which is my lack of a job in my field. There are a few things out there that I need to apply for ASAP. I need to make the time to do a resume/letter for each of them; force myself to get up after the kid has gone to sleep (before is not an option as she is all over the place and says "what are you DOING, mommy?!" at least 6,000 times a day. Plus I'm usually trying to get some kind of semi nutritious meal on the table during that time. Or playing with her outside.)  And you know, my current job is a good job and definitely pays the bills, but I'm SO maxed out there. It'll be five years this fall and I'm just done. Not only mentally but I have no more opportunity for growth. It's time to hit the road for sure.

I got some moolah for graduation and SWORE I would not spend it on toys or clothes for tiny people but instead on career clothes. Since the dress code at my current job is uber laid back, my closet has suffered tremendously.  So I headed out to the sales Monday and while I did find a very nice suit for a decent price, I'm fat and I hate the fatness. When I got pregnant, I was already fat. And then I gained 40 lbs. And then I lost 65 because breastfeeding is awesome. And then I stopped breastfeeding and gained 25 lbs in 2 weeks (I'm so not exaggerating) and was basically right back where I started. I'm too scared to even get near a scale at this point. Let's just say my pants are SNUG.

So now I have a dirty house, no decent job, and I'm fat.

DO YOU SEE HOW THIS SPIRALS OUT OF CONTROL?! I need a cookie.

And I realize this made zero sense; I'll attempt a follow up tomorrow.