CJ says I'm spoiled, but I'm not so sure I'm the worst offender in our household:
6.30.2010
6.29.2010
recipe index
Psst: Over to the side, I put in a recipe index. So, just in case you saw a recipe here you thought you'd try but then forgot about, or if you just happened to be here, everything I post will be linked over there for easy access.
It's probably good that I forgot about this recipe for peanut butter brownie cookies, but now that I remember how delicious they were, I just want to go make a batch...
It's probably good that I forgot about this recipe for peanut butter brownie cookies, but now that I remember how delicious they were, I just want to go make a batch...
6.28.2010
little bee
I picked up Little Bee by Chris Cleave a few months ago. I bought it because I needed a book to read to kill some time before an event. I'm not going to lie either. It had a bright orange cover that I liked.
I was probably most intrigued by the back cover, though: We don't want to tell you what happens in this book. It is a truly special story and we don't want to spoil it. Nevertheless, you need to know enough to buy it, so we'll say just this: This is the story of two women. Their lives collide one fateful day, and oen of them has to make a terrible choice, the kind of choice we hope you never have to face. Two years later, they meet again - the story starts there . . . Once you have read it, you'll want to tell your friends about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens. The magic is in how the story unfolds.
First, I give the publisher credit for an excellent marketing strategy. I'm not so sure I'd describe anything in the book as magical. I felt like it peaked a little too soon, but by the time I got to the end, I think I was a little bit stunned. I can enjoy a book, but it's not too often that one touches me.
I'm not going to ruin it for you though, so go pick it up. (See, the strategy works.)
I was probably most intrigued by the back cover, though: We don't want to tell you what happens in this book. It is a truly special story and we don't want to spoil it. Nevertheless, you need to know enough to buy it, so we'll say just this: This is the story of two women. Their lives collide one fateful day, and oen of them has to make a terrible choice, the kind of choice we hope you never have to face. Two years later, they meet again - the story starts there . . . Once you have read it, you'll want to tell your friends about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens. The magic is in how the story unfolds.
First, I give the publisher credit for an excellent marketing strategy. I'm not so sure I'd describe anything in the book as magical. I felt like it peaked a little too soon, but by the time I got to the end, I think I was a little bit stunned. I can enjoy a book, but it's not too often that one touches me.
I'm not going to ruin it for you though, so go pick it up. (See, the strategy works.)
6.25.2010
follow friday
Everyone knows how much I love Etsy. So I was super pumped to run across Etsy It Up! one day. I don't always find things I like on the website. And not everything is from Etsy, but it's all handmade. I'll make it brief: if you're into etsy, look over here too. (And, they're doing a bunch of giveaways through Saturday the 26th too, if you're interested!)
6.23.2010
projects?
Has anyone noticed I haven't posted anything about our projects lately? I bet everyone was hoping we'd take a break for awhile. What's homeownership if you can't constantly work at improving it?
We have about six projects on our plate right now, but nothing's done just yet. Here's a preview of my biggest summer project:
6.22.2010
topsy turvy update
I figure it's time for a topsy turvy update. It's so-so. It was doing really well. Then it started growing up. Then the leaves started withering. We initially thought it was getting too much water ... then not enough ... then it was too hot, being so close to the house. After I sprayed Miracle Gro on it and then after it rained 3-4" last night, it's not looking too bad anymore. It at least has some tiny little tomatoes on it, but it's definitely not doing as well as our other tomato plants.
I'll still keep everyone updated, but I don't think we'll be doing this again.
(No one's paying me to say any of this.)
6.21.2010
bath time
Bath time isn't a pleasant experience in our house -- at least where Henry is concerned. It's a constant fight. He sits down on the ground, pushes his legs into the ground, and flat out refuses to move. Ever try to move a kid when they go limp? Ever try moving a fifty pound dog when he goes limp? It makes me appreciate the people who groom him that much more.
Here are the pictures I snapped of CJ trying to give Henry a bath. (Sorry for the blurred photos.)
Here are the pictures I snapped of CJ trying to give Henry a bath. (Sorry for the blurred photos.)
6.16.2010
strawberry salsa
This is one of my favorite appetizers ever (if not my all-time favorite one!). Again, it's courtesy of Christy at Trippin' - Life with Triplets. It doesn't keep for very long (or at least if it does, I haven't found the magic trick yet), so eat quickly (which is never a problem for me!).
Strawberry Salsa
4 cups
1 pint fresh strawberries, diced
4 plum tomatoes, seeded & diced
1 small red onion, diced
1-2 medium jalapenos, minced
juice of 1 lime
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbsp. olive or vegetable oil.
Combine, cover, and chill for 2 hours before serving.
Christy says this is good with chicken or pork, but I've always eaten it with tortilla chips ... or by the spoonful.
Enjoy!
Strawberry Salsa
4 cups
1 pint fresh strawberries, diced
4 plum tomatoes, seeded & diced
1 small red onion, diced
1-2 medium jalapenos, minced
juice of 1 lime
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbsp. olive or vegetable oil.
Combine, cover, and chill for 2 hours before serving.
Christy says this is good with chicken or pork, but I've always eaten it with tortilla chips ... or by the spoonful.
Enjoy!
6.14.2010
dad & millie
My dad is not a dog person.
He wasn't exactly thrilled when he learned we adopted Henry. So imagine how happy he was when someone dropped off a dog at his house late last fall.
My mom felt sorry for the dog -- an old pug she named Millie (after former President Bush's dog, Millie) -- and so they kept her.
Last Thanksgiving, we almost took Millie home. My dad was still not keen on having the dog, and even though it was cold and raining outside, Millie was still outside -- under the covered porch, but still outside. We went so far as to put her in the car with us. As we were sitting there in my jeep discussing taking another dog into our household, my parents' garage door opened up. My dad stood there, saw CJ with the dog in his lap, and yelled, "Leave my dog alone! Put my dog down!"
CJ said that was the day my heart grew three sizes, because I stewed about that the entire drive home. As soon as we got home, I called my parents and begged my mom to buy Millie a house or something to keep her out of the cold. They took warm towels out to her for a few days, and then finally caved and let her stay in their garage.
It's all gone down hill from there. Eventually Millie got her own pillow and her own little dog house -- all kept in the garage. Now my dad takes Millie for rides with him in his truck -- which leads us to the point of this whole post.
A few months ago, Dad took Millie with him to the post office. She sat in the passenger seat very quietly, enjoying herself. Dad hopped out of the truck to run into the post office, leaving the keys in the ignition (small town America). He came back and found that Millie had locked him out of the truck.
Somehow I doubt that this lockout will stop Dad from taking Millie on more rides. Turns out he may not hate dogs that much after all.
P.S. I should probably note in here the last time we went to my parents' house, I noticed my parents had three large Sam's Club-size bags of dog treats. Henry might get one treat per day, and that's if he's been extra good and most likely if he's performed some sort of trick for us (even if that trick is sitting down). But, Millie? She gets a treat in the morning, after work, just whenever. Can we say spoiled?
He wasn't exactly thrilled when he learned we adopted Henry. So imagine how happy he was when someone dropped off a dog at his house late last fall.
My mom felt sorry for the dog -- an old pug she named Millie (after former President Bush's dog, Millie) -- and so they kept her.
Last Thanksgiving, we almost took Millie home. My dad was still not keen on having the dog, and even though it was cold and raining outside, Millie was still outside -- under the covered porch, but still outside. We went so far as to put her in the car with us. As we were sitting there in my jeep discussing taking another dog into our household, my parents' garage door opened up. My dad stood there, saw CJ with the dog in his lap, and yelled, "Leave my dog alone! Put my dog down!"
CJ said that was the day my heart grew three sizes, because I stewed about that the entire drive home. As soon as we got home, I called my parents and begged my mom to buy Millie a house or something to keep her out of the cold. They took warm towels out to her for a few days, and then finally caved and let her stay in their garage.
It's all gone down hill from there. Eventually Millie got her own pillow and her own little dog house -- all kept in the garage. Now my dad takes Millie for rides with him in his truck -- which leads us to the point of this whole post.
A few months ago, Dad took Millie with him to the post office. She sat in the passenger seat very quietly, enjoying herself. Dad hopped out of the truck to run into the post office, leaving the keys in the ignition (small town America). He came back and found that Millie had locked him out of the truck.
Somehow I doubt that this lockout will stop Dad from taking Millie on more rides. Turns out he may not hate dogs that much after all.
P.S. I should probably note in here the last time we went to my parents' house, I noticed my parents had three large Sam's Club-size bags of dog treats. Henry might get one treat per day, and that's if he's been extra good and most likely if he's performed some sort of trick for us (even if that trick is sitting down). But, Millie? She gets a treat in the morning, after work, just whenever. Can we say spoiled?
6.11.2010
follow friday
Does everyone get the daily Groupon emails yet?
If you haven't heard of it yet, Groupon gives you coupon deals specific to your area. The deal is only good for one day, and it's also only good if enough people tip it off with a certain number of sales. You have to pay a price that varies with the product, but then you usually get a fairly deep discount in return.
I've purchased several so far, for restaurants (Adobo Grill and Agio) and for general entertainment (bowling and pottery painting in Broad Ripple). I used my first groupon yesterday at the Pita Pit downtown. I paid $5 for the groupon, and got a gift certificate (essentially) for $10 in return. My meal cost $8 and some change, so I was unable to use the entire groupon, but for $5, I got a decent pita and a drink and saved around $3.25. Another plus is that there's an app for it.
It's not going to benefit you if you don't spend a lot of time in Indianapolis, but if you do, it's definitely worth it to sign up.
If you haven't heard of it yet, Groupon gives you coupon deals specific to your area. The deal is only good for one day, and it's also only good if enough people tip it off with a certain number of sales. You have to pay a price that varies with the product, but then you usually get a fairly deep discount in return.
I've purchased several so far, for restaurants (Adobo Grill and Agio) and for general entertainment (bowling and pottery painting in Broad Ripple). I used my first groupon yesterday at the Pita Pit downtown. I paid $5 for the groupon, and got a gift certificate (essentially) for $10 in return. My meal cost $8 and some change, so I was unable to use the entire groupon, but for $5, I got a decent pita and a drink and saved around $3.25. Another plus is that there's an app for it.
It's not going to benefit you if you don't spend a lot of time in Indianapolis, but if you do, it's definitely worth it to sign up.
6.09.2010
penne with asparagus, spinach, & bacon
Today's recipe comes courtesy of a former co-worker, Christy, over at Trippin' - Life with Triplets. I picked up fresh vegetables at the downtown farmers' market and whipped up this one that night. We loved it!
Penne with Asparagus, Spinach, & Bacon
8 oz. uncooked penne
2 bacon slices (I won't lie, I used more)
1/2 C. chopped sweet onion
2 1/2 C. sliced asparagus (about 1 lb.)
1 1/2 C. chicken broth
4 C. baby spinach leaves
1/2 C. Parmesan
1/4 tsp. black pepper
salt to taste
Cook pasta. Drain and keep warm.
Cook bacon until crisp and remove from pan. Add onion to bacon drippings and saute one minute. Add asparagus and broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender. Add pasta, spinach, 1/4 C. cheese, and pepper. Toss well. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and crumbled bacon.
Hope you all enjoy it as much as we did!
Penne with Asparagus, Spinach, & Bacon
8 oz. uncooked penne
2 bacon slices (I won't lie, I used more)
1/2 C. chopped sweet onion
2 1/2 C. sliced asparagus (about 1 lb.)
1 1/2 C. chicken broth
4 C. baby spinach leaves
1/2 C. Parmesan
1/4 tsp. black pepper
salt to taste
Cook pasta. Drain and keep warm.
Cook bacon until crisp and remove from pan. Add onion to bacon drippings and saute one minute. Add asparagus and broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender. Add pasta, spinach, 1/4 C. cheese, and pepper. Toss well. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and crumbled bacon.
Hope you all enjoy it as much as we did!
6.07.2010
enjoying outside
I'm so glad we put up that fence so Henry could just sit in the dirt all day. I wish I was joking here, but seriously, he just sits in the dirt.
I guess I shouldn't complain. It's better for him to sit in the dirt than it is for him to drive me crazy inside.
6.04.2010
congratulations to...
It's long been one of CJ's goals to go back to school and get his nursing degree, and so I'm thrilled to announce that he was accepted into Ivy Tech's program today! Ivy Tech offers a year-long nursing program specifically for paramedics, and it was the perfect fit for CJ, and well, us.
Since the program is designed for paramedics, the schedule is worked around the three fire department shifts. The same class is offered twice a week at different times, so if one of them falls on a day he works, he can just attend the other class. His clinicals will all work around his schedule as well.
Working around his fire department schedule is key. Last semester, when CJ was in classes, he would work his regular twenty-four hour shifts. If he had to work on a Tuesday when he had a half-day's worth of classes, he took the time off and then went in to finish off the last fourteen hours of his shift. If he had to work on a Thursday when he was in class from 1 until 8 pm, he had to do a time trade at work for a Saturday. Those weeks were the worst. I'd see him -- through a sleep-induced haze -- at 6 am on Saturday mornings, and then I wouldn't see him again until 5:30 pm on Monday night. Needless to say, I'm not sure we really spent much time with anyone because we really weren't able to spend much time with each other first.
Really, I just can't stress enough how important this particular program is to us, just because of the ease of scheduling.
We're not under any illusions though, especially since we've already gone through five months' worth of both of us working full-time jobs (and one of those being a non-traditional full-time job) and with both of us in school full-time. We know it will be difficult on us and that we'll have to work harder than ever on our marriage. So starting in August and going for approximately one year, if you don't see us for weeks or months on end, we're terribly sorry!
So anyway, I'll close out for tonight, but if you do see CJ anytime soon, be sure to give him a big congratulations -- he definitely deserves it.
Since the program is designed for paramedics, the schedule is worked around the three fire department shifts. The same class is offered twice a week at different times, so if one of them falls on a day he works, he can just attend the other class. His clinicals will all work around his schedule as well.
Working around his fire department schedule is key. Last semester, when CJ was in classes, he would work his regular twenty-four hour shifts. If he had to work on a Tuesday when he had a half-day's worth of classes, he took the time off and then went in to finish off the last fourteen hours of his shift. If he had to work on a Thursday when he was in class from 1 until 8 pm, he had to do a time trade at work for a Saturday. Those weeks were the worst. I'd see him -- through a sleep-induced haze -- at 6 am on Saturday mornings, and then I wouldn't see him again until 5:30 pm on Monday night. Needless to say, I'm not sure we really spent much time with anyone because we really weren't able to spend much time with each other first.
Really, I just can't stress enough how important this particular program is to us, just because of the ease of scheduling.
We're not under any illusions though, especially since we've already gone through five months' worth of both of us working full-time jobs (and one of those being a non-traditional full-time job) and with both of us in school full-time. We know it will be difficult on us and that we'll have to work harder than ever on our marriage. So starting in August and going for approximately one year, if you don't see us for weeks or months on end, we're terribly sorry!
So anyway, I'll close out for tonight, but if you do see CJ anytime soon, be sure to give him a big congratulations -- he definitely deserves it.
6.03.2010
back to school...
No, I don't get a summer break. Indiana Wesleyan's program runs straight through for two years. We get a week off here and there (like last week), but no break for me this summer ... or next summer, for that matter. I keep telling myself that someday I'll appreciate all the hard work and no extended vacations?
I finished up Managerial Economics the week we left for vacation. For the next three weeks in June, I'll be in the Managerial Finance prerequisite course. Then we get a week off and then I'll be in Managerial Finance through the end of August. Can't wait.
Studying is a little difficult around our house, especially with someone else vying for attention:
6.02.2010
the game of opposites
It's rare that I finish a book.
1.) As much as I love reading, I'm too distracted by other things to get a book read quickly (the husband, the dog, the cat, the tv, the computer, school work, so on, so forth). There are only a few exceptions to this rule, all series books that are just fun -- Harry Potter, Twilight, Sookie Stackhouse.
2.) I have a horrible tendency to start a book, really get into it, and then not finish it. Each year, I try to make it my goal to rid myself of this habit, and I fail each time.
So I surprised even myself when I read -- and finished! -- The Game of Opposites by Norman Lebrecht. I checked it out from the library, renewed it nine (yes, nine) times, and then finally picked it up. I loved it so much, I bought it used online. It took me awhile, but I plugged ahead and I finished! And I definitely recommend it.
It's fiction, the story of a man who survived a Nazi concentration camp and tries to rebuild his life afterwards. He rebuilds the town next to the concentration camp, and forges relationships with people who lived there and watched those prisoners walk by on their way to work each day. And, true to the title, Paul, the main character, is full of contradictions and opposites. There were a few times that I finished a chapter and just had to put it aside for awhile, because it just affected me -- which doesn't seem to happen very often when I read fiction. The book didn't end the way I thought it was going to. But, thinking about it some more, I'm beginning to think it actually did end the way I thought it was going to all along. And that's probably what I liked the most about it -- that, like the character, I second guessed myself through the entire book.
1.) As much as I love reading, I'm too distracted by other things to get a book read quickly (the husband, the dog, the cat, the tv, the computer, school work, so on, so forth). There are only a few exceptions to this rule, all series books that are just fun -- Harry Potter, Twilight, Sookie Stackhouse.
2.) I have a horrible tendency to start a book, really get into it, and then not finish it. Each year, I try to make it my goal to rid myself of this habit, and I fail each time.
So I surprised even myself when I read -- and finished! -- The Game of Opposites by Norman Lebrecht. I checked it out from the library, renewed it nine (yes, nine) times, and then finally picked it up. I loved it so much, I bought it used online. It took me awhile, but I plugged ahead and I finished! And I definitely recommend it.
It's fiction, the story of a man who survived a Nazi concentration camp and tries to rebuild his life afterwards. He rebuilds the town next to the concentration camp, and forges relationships with people who lived there and watched those prisoners walk by on their way to work each day. And, true to the title, Paul, the main character, is full of contradictions and opposites. There were a few times that I finished a chapter and just had to put it aside for awhile, because it just affected me -- which doesn't seem to happen very often when I read fiction. The book didn't end the way I thought it was going to. But, thinking about it some more, I'm beginning to think it actually did end the way I thought it was going to all along. And that's probably what I liked the most about it -- that, like the character, I second guessed myself through the entire book.
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