Meal Planning

In an effort to eat better and save money, Joey and I decided to create a meal plan for the month of November. At this point, the only goal has been to avoid eating fast food. And so far, it's been working out really well. I created this calendar using a template found online at www.designfinch.com

On our first day, we had seasoned chicken, roasted potatoes, and sauteed mushrooms. This was a simple meal, in which I found a recipe on Pinterest. I ended up only using the recipe as a guideline, finding that I could approximate measurements easily. I put chicken and red potatoes in a baking dish, sprinkling pepper and Italian-seasoning over everything. Baked at 350 degrees for an hour, and it was done. Joey was fantastic, too, because when I do the cooking, he does the cleaning. Works brilliantly.

On the next day, we cooked beef tips in the crockpot and made spinach salad. We dressed our salad with red, yellow, and orange peppers, avocado, mushrooms, tomatoes, oil and balsamic vinegar. We enjoyed it, but with Joey, it's hard to beat Nordy's barbecue in Loveland, Colo.

We ended up having leftovers of both meals and realized that we were maybe over-planning, which led us to eat leftovers the next night.

Our favorite meal of the week, so far, was Penne with mozzarella and tomatoes. This was a planned meal, however, I ended up throwing many additional ingredients into the sauce spontaneously. Overall, this was a super easy and tasty meal. It also was a cheap meal, costing us both to eat for less than $10 total. I chopped about a clove of garlic; several tomatoes (Roma); bay leaves (because I grabbed bay leaves instead of basil; next time, we'll do basil in this meal), heating these ingredients together in extra virgin olive oil. I then threw in some oregano, salt, and pepper. I was fairly generous with the pepper and oregano. I cooked the Penne boiling it with a drizzle of olive oil, and chopped up some of the mozzarella ball (the highest expense of the meal). It turned out better than expected (even without the basil).

Today, I made Turkey Burgers, which were so much better than expected and nothing like Skinnytaste's recipe, but still exceptional. I sort of forget what I put into the burger mixture to be honest, but I know it included:

- Ground Turkey
- Pepper (no salt to avoid drying out the mixture)
- All-purpose seasoning
- Egg (which makes this meal less healthy)
- A sprinkling of bread crumbs
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Clove of garlic

Joey brought over and cooked bacon; and I chopped up an avocado as toppings. The seasoning was so much better than I thought it would be. Joey and I both want to add Worcestershire sauce into the turkey mixture next time. This meal was super easy and took only a half hour tops to make. Time is a plus, as Joey has limited time between homework, labs, and work.

Again, we have leftovers, so our plan is changing a little bit tomorrow, as we are going to heat up the Penne and the leftover turkey burgers. However, our process has been going well. As we eat our meals, Joey and I talk about how we will change some of the meals, keep some of them the same, and what we will continue to keep on our meal plan for December. It's also a nice way to spend time together--cooking and eating. Who could ask for more?

Cheers!

What are you doing again?

Me on top of Estes Cone in Rocky Mountain
National Park.  I went there with my friend, Andrew.

Two years ago today, I was saying goodbye to friends in Illinois and preparing for my move west.  A lot of people questioned my life choices at that time.  I had just gone through some major life changes, and the decision to move happened rapidly.  I did not think everything through.  I just did it.

Fast-forward to today, I find myself awestruck by how things worked out.  I met a caring boyfriend, who loves and respects me.  I met new friends; participated in new experiences; got admitted into a master's program that focuses on something I am passionate about; and developed a deeper sense of myself.

To quit my job, move out west, and take the risk that my plans would not work out, was not like me.  I always stuck to plans and expectations.  I thought that was what I supposed to do in life.  The spontaneous and risk-taking behavior was so unlike me that I am sure at least some people did not think I would follow through; but I did.

And I am glad.  Now, two years later, I see how much there is to learn in this world.  I realize how much I do not know.  I realize my tendency to be stubborn and rigid with issues of morality.  I also realize my tendency to over-think the little details.  And at the same time, I also learned to lighten up and loosen up every once in awhile.  I also gained a belief in change, and feel humbled and blessed with the life lessons learned.

Some friends, who I met in my graduate program, in Buena Vista.
From left: Laura, Erika, Rochelle, Margeaux, and Leah.

While everything could have easily fallen apart, they did not.  I took a chance, and it happened to work out, at least for now.  I wrote a blog entry a couple of years ago, answering a question that many people were asking me: "What are you doing again?"  At that time, I answered this by saying I was growing.  Today, I answer it differently.  The answer today is: "I do not know, but I know it is going to work out."  Things always seem to work out.  And, even though I do not have all the answers, I know whatever happens will happen for the better.

Thank you to all of my friends (there were soooooo many) who helped me out two years ago.  I appreciate you and love each of you and sooooo many people pop in my head when I think of that time; I, again, am humbled, blessed, and grateful.

Thoughts for the day: 5/14/13

Thoughts for the day, 5/14/13:
- When you go to 2018, and you're asked to bring back one thing, you can't bring back the baby!
- "We'll smell the sun together." Rafah and Erika
- "You all can say goodbye to me" - Rafah
- Oh, darn, I left my sunglasses at the student center.  Oh well, they are long gone.
- Minutes later, looking at the reflection, "Oh, they're on my head!"
- "Hey, you." - Leah; "Hey, you made it." - Leah

Not the same

I am not the same person I was two years ago.  Some changes I applaud.  Other changes I do not.  I am hardly perfect, and I have more lessons to learn.  But I need to say, maturity gives the gift of perspective.  Maturity gives the gifts of grace, understanding, and kindness.  I am no expert at those virtues yet, but I am working toward them--practicing and challenging myself to give in to them.  

I recently realized, at one time, I berated people and made people feel bad about themselves and made them feel as if they were not enough.  I made them feel as if I was disappointed in them.  As if they could never make me happy or measure up.  I made some people feel stupid.  Not purposefully.  And, I think my intentions were better than they came across.  But I do not think that is an excuse.  Showing grace and love toward another person comes by being patient, kind, and calm.  Showing understanding toward another human being comes by admiring their strengths and encouraging those strengths.  Showing recognition for those strengths comes by asking for help.  (And asking for help IS OK and actually quite helpful.)  Showing respect for another human being comes by telling them they are helpful and receiving their help with gratitude.  The people I took for granted were some of the smartest people I know...not stupid, not shameful, not any of the feelings I may have made them feel.  And, they should know that what they have to say is important and worthwhile and admirable.  And no one should feel otherwise.  And I am sorry for having closed my mind to other peoples' laudable traits.  

All of those words seem so simple.  And I am ashamed to admit that it has taken so long for me to understand how I have come across in the past.  But I am grateful that I have a chance to learn and grow from them.  I am thankful for the struggles that have helped in learning those lessons (even though they were hard and painful).  I do not think I will ever feel the pain I felt almost exactly two years ago.  At least I hope I don't, but if I do, I know I can get through it and learn and love again.  

And I am thankful, because I am not the same person I was two years ago.

Some quotes and thoughts and such

5-11-11
Beautiful day at Lake of the Woods. I grabbed some Subway and headed over to the park to eat. As soon as I entered, I saw it was busy day there. There were two runners, a cyclist, golfers, people fishing all around the lake and warblers chirping from their perches in the trees.

Throughout the 30 minutes I was there, I entertained myself by watching two guys get their boat in the water. This one guy accidentally threw something in the water. The two of them stopped. Looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders, and that was that. They didn't pull whatever it was out. It didn't seem like they knew what they were doing, but they were trying, so I guess that's all that mattered. I'm actually not sure what they were doing. They were going around the edge of the lake with a net, collecting something. Not sure what. Maybe frogs?

Aside from that, it was peaceful. The lake was calm -- aside from the motor noise of the boat. It brought me back to the days when there was a beach there. Christine and I went there a couple of times just to hang out and do stuff outside. One time we inflated an inner-tube, stuffed it in my old '89 Honda, and took it to the lake. It was a little ridiculous since the tube had to be stuffed in and there was no visibility through the back window. But those were the days. I wish the beach was still there. It was nice to visit.

The weather is great outside. I think I can get used to it. It is hot and humid...and feels like summer already, but I'm starting to realize I like it like that. Even if my hair doesn't. I walked into our air conditioned office, and I just felt like I wanted the fresh air again. It seems like the past few years, I forgot, or something, how much I liked being outside. It seems like I forgot a lot of things. Maybe it was just because it was winter.

I also forgot how much I liked to eat outside. I forgot how much I liked being by the lake relaxing. I don't think I've done it for years. But I've done it a lot already this year. How strange. It seems I lost myself for a while. A lot of people have told me recently that I all of a sudden seem like my old self again...like I did when I was in early college. Exploring. Hanging out outside. Planning activities. Doing activities. I feel as though I truly did lose myself. I was immobile for a while...doing nothing. I'm not sure why. But I know no one is to blame but myself. It's nice, though, to get myself back a little bit. It's nice to know that after a long, cold winter, there is a spring.

Just some fun quotes and thoughts:
Mom: "I need you for the toilet."
Dad: "That's all I'm good for."

Me: "I need to get rid of half my stuff. I just need to look at stuff and depart with it. Like poopy duck."
Mom: "Can you get rid of poopy duck?"
Me: "I don't know. It's going to be hard."
Mom: "I could see how it would be hard."

"Oblong man marries Normal woman." - Jillian, quoting a headline

"I got into trouble sometimes, but I'm so glad I did." Jillian

"As the Office Coordinator, I believe it would be a good practice if we had
a Disaster Drill to become familiar with what exactly we would do, and how
long it would take us to do it.
Therefore, before the end of this week when all of us are here, I will
suddenly scream "DISASTER DRILL"! At that time, all employees of the
Citizen and Press will drop whatever they are doing and
report immediately to the "Reporters Room". If you do not know the
location of the "Reporters Room", yell "I don't know where to go"! One of
the other employees will point the way. Once in the "Reporters Room", we
will all try to get under the desk. This may be awkward at first, but I am
sure we can all do it in a mannerly way. Before leaving individual
offices, please make sure your "Out of the Office" email is current with
the notation "Actually, I am in the office, but we are in the midst of a
DISASTER DRILL. Please leave a message".
Some of you may make a mockery of this DISASTER DRILL. However, I will be
recording DISASTER DRILL times and reporting them back to the main
headquarters.
Thank you all for your cooperation." - Jillian

"We are not like jellyfish--it's not like when you poke us, we always do the same thing." - Daniel Weissman, neuroscientist in charge of multitasking experiment


"The irony of commitment is that it's deeply liberating - in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life." -Anne Morriss, Starbucks customer, "The Way I See It" #76

"You have to be willing to stretch your comfort zone. You have to do things other people won't, so you'll have things other people don't." -Arel Moodie, Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour

"For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather of power, love and self-control." - 2 Timothy 1:7

Annual update

Because I do a poor job of keeping up with this blog, I decided to shoot for annual updates. And, when I say "annual update" I do not mean I am going to cover everything that happened in the past year. I am just going to write a normal, brief blog once per year. However, because I have made this goal, I probably will blog more than just once per year. What can I say? I work backwards.

Today, I am going to write about a funny happenstance. This story starts with class yesterday. During a presentation, the class talked about assumptions people have of others based on images that are projected to society. One of the images was of a man with sagging pants. The main assumption we talked about was that when people see a person walking down the side of the street with sagging pants, then they immediately feel this person may be dangerous. That may be true. Who knows?

 Anyway, today, Joey (my boyfriend) and I went to Jimmy John's for lunch. As we were walking out of Jimmy John's, I noticed Joey was walking funny. His legs widened as he walked forward. He started waddling. That's when I realized his pants were falling down. His pants were sliding to the floor, revealing his shorts that were underneath. He held them up with his hand and waddled out to his car. I died. It was so funny. He explained he had not tied his pants and they were loose. And at that moment, I decided I would never fear someone with sagging pants.