hmm

I haven't written anything on this blog in well over a week. It's a testament to how fast everything seems to be moving right now. I can't believe it will be May next weekend. What?? I feel like I was just digging my car out of snow. Oh wait. I have a garage. Nevermind.

Moving on. There are so many exciting things coming up in the months ahead. I suppose that's why the time moves so quickly-but I can't wait. But, with all the upcoming events and happenings, I tend to get a little anxious. Scratch that-a lot anxious. Will everything come together? What am I going to wear to ____? What if ___ happens? What's the backup plan? And of course, while all of that anxiety is going on, work inevitably becomes explosive and stressful.

I need to be better at dealing with stress. Running definitely helps, but I wish so much I could just let some things "slide." Some people are so good at taking a "what will be will be" approach. Instead, I take more of a "things will turn out a certain way depending on how much I control them and make them fit in this fantastic schedule I've come up with..." Bleh. When I get stressed like that I end up snapping at people and basically approach every little problem like it's an end of the world type catastrophe.

What's helped, though, is that I have such generous friends (and family-hi katy!). This week a few friends came over and helped me out with what might seem like an easy, mundane task-tying up silverware for the wedding and finishing up some DIY decorations. Simple-yes, but a huge help. They got it done in 2 hours. I would have dragged the project out for weeks.

Weddings can definitely be stressful, with the planning and trying to please people, but Steve and I are really lucky to have such fantastic friends and family to help us out with all different aspects of the wedding. And I think that will make it that much more fun. :-)

Being at the beach won't hurt either.

Freebies!

Taxes are due! But, did you know you can get free coffee at Starbucks today if you bring your own travel mug?? Amazing! Here is a list of other deals...including $10.40 entrees at McCormick and Schmick's!

A Quandry

I am facing quite the dilemma. After a 5 month hiatus, Glee returns this evening. At the same time as LOST. *sigh* What to do...what to do?? (Suggesting staying up until 10 PM and watching the other at that time is not an option. The other will have to wait until tomorrow evening.)

Not too long now.

I don't think I'm your "stereotypical" bride. I'm not concerning myself with the color of chair covers. I don't lie awake at night fantasizing about what we'll name our children. That's not really me. At all. Instead, I think how odd it'll be for a man to have access to my underwear drawer. Or to know exactly how many pair of shoes I have (yikes). I wonder how I'll ever get used to sleeping with a boy every night (get your head out of the gutter, I mean sleeping). I'm not exactly the "sharing the bed" type-just ask my sister. There were many vacations growing up where I opted to sleep on the floor-or once an oversized ottoman-rather than share a bed with my sis.

But, there are a few things about which I get what I'll call "bridal-giddy". One being the dress. Which I am picking up this evening. Yes. I cannot wait! I'm not exactly sure how many days it is til our wedding, but I've been counting down the days til Dress Day. I just made that day up, but I feel brides everywhere can empathize.

I just hope the sleeves aren't too poofy. ;)

O Pioneers!

I really did not like that book when we had to read it in high school. Just hearing the title evokes memories of my cigarette-addicted honors English teacher my junior year. I'd get back a graded paper stinking of smoke. Bleh.



But, I digress. Have you heard about The Pioneer Woman? You can find here here. Her recipes are awesome. But, as I've read more on her blog, her story is pretty awesome, too. It looks like there's even a movie in the works about her life! I promise you'll be hooked once you start reading. I made her carrot cake recipe this weekend-delicious.

Check her out. You'll thank me later.

Happy Easter to my peeps.

While today is certainly a reflective day, I am looking forward to Easter and all the joy it brings-especially with this fantastic weather! And I absolutely love that this diorama won the Washington Post's annual peep diorama contest. Did you notice all the peeps* in that balloon??

*Note, peeps are gross. My sister loves them (sick) and prefers them to be a bit stale. Siiick. I much prefer the Cadbury Egg or the Reece's Peanut Butter Egg as my Easter candy of choice!

Wish this had been a major in college.

I found my dream job. A Honeymoon Tester! You can read about it here. Yes, I would like to travel around to resorts and blog about sunset dinners, curling waves, reading in a hammock and sipping complimentary champagne.

Seriously. No April foolin' here.

Spring cooking

With the weather starting to get warmer, I really haven't felt much like getting out the crock-pot to cook. Instead, I've been craving lots of fruits and veggies and "fresh" food. Does the same thing happen to you? Well, here's two super easy dishes I made this weekend that just tasted like spring to me. Yum!

Pasta Primavera
I realize this is not a difficult dish to put together-veggies + pasta = pasta primavera. But, I roasted my veggies in the oven versus steaming them, and I think it makes a really good flavor. Plus, roasting the veggies nearly ensures they won't be mushy. There's nothing grosser than mushy veggies. Also, I just used what I had on hand, I think this would be delish with some bell peppers and cherry tomatoes!

Ingredients
2 medium zucchini, cut into thin strips
4-5 carrots, cut into thin strips
1 sweet onion, cut into thin strips
1 head broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces
12 oz. pasta, I used whole wheat spirals, but this would be good with anything
Salt
Pepper
Italian Seasoning
Olive Oil
Fresh Parmesan cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Scatter cut veggies on a baking sheet and cover with 1/4 Cup olive oil and 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning. Salt and pepper to taste. Roast for 20 minutes, stopping at the 10 minute mark to give everyone a stir. Meanwhile, boil pasta according to directions on box. Drain pasta and toss with veggies. Top with fresh grated Parmesan cheese. Yummm.

Homemade Chicken Salad
I love chicken salad. If I had them on hand, I would have added toasted walnuts to this mix for some extra crunch.

Ingredients
2 chicken breasts with bone-in
olive oil
salt
pepper
1/3 cup mayonnaise-I always use low-fat Hellman's. It is the best. Never fat free and NEVER EVER MIRACLE WHIP. That stuff is disgusting.
1 cup red seedless grapes cut in half
1 cup chopped celery (about 2 stalks)
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon fresh tarragon, chopped

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Rub chicken breasts with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 35-40 minutes, until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear when you cut into it. Let cool completely.

Once chicken is cool, cut off skin and cut chicken in diced pieces. Combine mayo, mustard, tarragon, Dijon mustard in bowl. Add mayo mixture to chicken, grapes and celery. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

Blog suicide.

I don't know what happened to my blog, but all my pictures are gone and instead it was replaced with ads! I've basically had to start over. Bleh.

Irish Dog

I AM tougher than I look!

It's hard work studying Beth Moore! Good thing I have this comfy lap to sit on.
I can never get enough petting! How can you resist this face?!

Whew, being an Irish doggie is a lot of work...must nap.

Ok, well I am not Irish. At least I don't think so. But, Fi is! Cairn terriers originated in the Scottish Highlands, but got their name because they would hunt in Ireland's cairns (large rock piles) for rats and other rodents. Fantastic!

I always love an excuse to post pictures of Fiona. She even has a Gaelic name! Did you know Julia Roberts' middle name is Fiona? Interesting!

Perhaps I did a bit too much wikipedia research this morning...

I couldn't resist.

Aren't these tulips so cheery? (Ok, I used my cell phone, so don't judge the terrible light in this picture!) I couldn't resist picking them up at Kroger yesterday. And a fantastic price! Spring is here! I love it and I love spring flowers.

(And you can kind of make out just the corner of one of Steve's birthday presents...what could it be?!)

Up, up and away

I am crossing my fingers that Up wins for best picture Sunday night. Though, I'm realistic Avatar will probably take home most of the Oscars and further stroke Mr. Cameron's ego. Bleh.

I absolutely loved this movie. Sentimental, but not too mushy. Ellie's last line to Carl in her scrapbook: Thanks for the adventure. Now go have one of your own...awwww!

And funny! I loved how the dogs would yell "SQUIRRELLLL!" (Reminds me of Fi when we are taking walks.) In fact, I saw wedding invitations with a couple in a hot air balloon and I secretly wanted to get them...but, the girl had red hair, so that would not have worked.

Here's to hoping Up takes the little gold statue...and to hoping I can stay awake to watch the Best Picture award category.

On my nightstand

I like to keep the essentials right next to my bed. I have a small nightstand with two small shelves. The bottom one keeps books I've recently read or that I simply treasure and love to have nearby, i.e. Pride and Prejudice!

The top shelf contains the following:

• small lamp
• glasses-completely blind when I take off my contacts
• hand cream-I am convinced I have the driest hands in Ohio this winter.
• two pictures-one of Steve and me and another of my immediate family circa 1988 in bathing suit attire (hot!)
• The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
• The Sickness by Steve Fuller
  

Wait a second...yep! My fiance has written a real book..one that you can hold in your hand, and dog-ear the pages. And, it's a great story! I keep glancing at it and think "hey I know that guy pictured on the back cover!" You can purchase it here. You should buy it. Then, you should review it. And if you don't give it 5 stars, I'll sue you. Kidding! (kind of)

I've mentioned to Steve several times since he began undertaking this whole "writing a book" thing how impressed I am by not only his writing (I was surprised by his first draft at how good the writing was..he he!), but also at courage it took for him to pursue his ambition to write. Most of us are employed in careers we may like, but don't necessarily make us come alive with excitement. I think pursuing writing this book has done that for Steve.

More importantly, it takes a lot of guts to write about a topic that is essentially taboo in our culture, and even more so amongst Christians. And now, he's got something he can physically hold to show for all his work.

And in 108 days, this man will be my husband. Lucky me!!!

Wow

Have you heard about the new TigerText app for smart phones? You can read about it here.

Looking the Part is Half the Battle

Note to self: do not run diamond engagement ring across pantyhose*. Even an accidental brush will result in you spending the afternoon looking like a 10 cent hooker.

Not exactly the look I was going for as an attorney......

Lesson learned.

You know, I really hate pantyhose. Even cheap ones cost about $8/pair and they last maybe 3 wears before they are full of runs or little nicks. What a waste!

Self-Diagnosis

I have seasonal affective disorder. I just know it! I nearly cried when hearing the prediction for potentially more snow this Saturday. I haven't been able to run outside in well over a week. Heck, I couldn't even drive to the gym the past three days and have had to improvise with Jillian Michaels' DVDs (h-e-double hockey sticks).

Since I can't exactly jet off on a beach vacation, pictures are the next best thing, right?

My cure for S.A.D. would involve:

1. A run through Wildwood Metropark. Toledo has the absolute best park system, complete with very run-able trails. Cincinnati has nothing in comparison. If I weren't getting married in the Outer Banks, I'd be getting married at Wildwood. It's beautiful and a fresh-air run without the need for hats/gloves and running tights would feel amazing.

2. A glass of vinho verde on my parents' deck (or any deck for that matter). Yes please. My favorite wine is my favorite because it screams summer. Light, crisp and uncomplicated. It pairs deliciously with one of my Dad's homegrown tomatoes. Too bad the best brand is nowhere to be found on store shelves until usually May.

3. Reading a good book on the beach while soaking up some sun at the Outer Banks. Oh, I know-the sun is harmful to my skin. Well, the snow is harmful to my soul! (At least I'm not dramatic...) I'll wear sunscreen, I promise.

4. Grilling out on Steve's balcony. Hmm, well Steve would be doing the grilling out while I relax and read a book and sip on some wine! That balcony is one of a kind, and even provides shelter from the hot sun or a summer rain shower. I bet you'll miss it, Steve!

5. A 7 night cruise in the Caribbean. Ok, now I'm getting greedy. But, it's been 7 years since I went on my first cruise. That trip was fantastic. There is something incredibly relaxing about traveling via boat. You unpack once, but you still get to visit several cities. The day at the Bahamas was unreal. It felt completely like paradise.

6. Island hopping in Greece. Fine, if I'm being greedy I might as well go all out. My trip to Greece in 2004 was limited to Athens and Rhodes. To complete a tour of Greece, I believe some island hopping to Mykonos, Santorini, and of course a return to Rhodes would be a must!

7. NO WORK.

Discipline

How often have I lived through these weeks without paying much attention to penance, fasting, and prayer? How often have I missed the spiritual fruits of the season without even being aware of it? But how can I ever really celebrate Easter without observing Lent? How can I rejoice fully in your Resurrection when I have avoided participating in your death? Yes, Lord, I have to die—with you, through you, and in you—and thus become ready to recognize you when you appear to me in your Resurrection. There is so much in me that needs to die: false attachments, greed and anger, impatience and stinginess.... I see clearly now how little I have died with you, really gone your way and been faithful to it. O Lord, make this Lenten season different from the other ones. Let me find you again. Amen.

-Henri Nouwen

I can't believe Lent is already here. Well, tomorrow anyway. Easter is just around the corner (and Spring, yay!). Lent always feels kind of like a "spiritual" new year. It's a chance to reflect on the areas of my life that are focused in the wrong direction and get rid of those things I'm treating like idols.

I often pick something to "fast" from during Lent. And to be honest, this year I was particularly inclined to pick something edible (or drinkable) from which to refrain. But, if I'm honest with myself, the reason behind that isn't so much to engage in sacrifice so I can recall Christ's sacrifice for me as it is to not look like a cow at my wedding in June.

So, this year, my focus during Lent is going to be on discipline, specifically discipline in prayer. I have set aside time to be used solely for prayer or prayer-journaling. It's not that I never pray, but I don't think my relationship with God is going to get stronger and more personal without discipline in this area. It doesn't feel natural to me-I don't like being still, and usually, if I am still-I'm falling asleep! I can't tell you how many times I've fallen asleep after just beginning to pray. Maybe praying with the lights off tucked in my bed isn't the best plan? Plus, I want that prayer time to be deeper-more confession and thanks, rather than feeling like I need to rattle off my list of requests.

Anyway, disciplined prayer-that'll be my focus this Lenten season. I have a feeling I won't regret it.

candy gram

When you were in school, did you have candy grams around Valentine's Day? We had those and also had carnations for sale that you could buy to have delivered to someone. It was always very nerve wracking in homeroom while you waited for your flower. I mean, what if you didn't get one? Total loser, right? Whew...glad those days are over. ;-)

The candy grams always came with candy hearts. I am not a big fan of conversation hearts. They taste like chalk. They are cute, though...

I just wasted 10 minutes making my very own conversation hearts. Fantastic, no?

You can even set it to "goth" mode if you have a negative disposition towards this weekend's holiday. (I have a negative disposition towards winter...so... yeah.)

Snow day pays off!

Usually I'm filled with jealousy when my teacher-roommate has a snow day. But, today I am filled with gratitude! My car was stuck in my snow covered driveway due to the little hill on it, and Jana came to the rescue and drove me to work. Good thing, too, because I was about to try to use a rake to shovel my driveway so I could get out. Maybe a shovel would be a good investment?

I cannot wait for spring.

I am so over this snow.

I'm LOST

LOST is the perfect name for the show because I feel completely lost once I'm done watching an episode. But, it's so exciting...and also confusing.

I found myself liking Sawyer better than Jack, what could that possibly mean?! (Except for his sick long hair, of course.)

Best line of the night: "I'm sorry you had to see me like that."

What'd you think? Sometimes I think I have a love/hate relationship with LOST. If only Penny and Desmond were back...