So I started this blog in January thinking that it would be one of my New Year's Resolutions to keep people updated in the mundane things going on as well as share things (like books and recipes) that I liked.
Obviously this is one resolution that didn't get seen through till the end...it became so much like a chore to update and I'm just not a "writer". When my health took a nasty turn in April again and I spent 3 weeks in the hospital-I just didn't have the strength to write about anything. And I had so many emotions that I wasn't sure were appropriate to share with the world at that point.
I'm not saying that 2013 will get any better about my frequency of updating but at least I know that I can when I need to.
Now..to update on my other 2012 Resolutions:
1. Read more (I actually had a concrete goal of reading 52 books this year or about 1 per week) - I slipped a little on this goal in the fall but picked back up as the year started coming to a close. As it stands now, I have 13 hours and 36 minutes to finish the 52nd book. Yay! I've already decided that my resolution for next year is to be completely caught up on my James Patterson books. I made a list before Christmas and Santa (well the whole family) came together to complete my collection so I wouldn't be missing any that are already published. The goal for 2013 is (drumroll) 68! I might be insane but his books go quickly so here's to hoping I succeed.
2. Working out-OK so I had good times and bad with this over 2012. I would go in spurts. But don't we all. I had gotten into walking either outside or on the treadmill in March when the weather started getting nice however, when the flu hit in April (followed by the appendicitis and the abcesses on my ovaries) that came to a screeching halt. I tried a few months back to start the Couch to 5K program and got 1 week in before another flareup with colitis hit. I feel like I'm using being sick as an excuse and I'm tired of it! In 2013 I am going to follow through with the Couch to 5K program AND I'm going to sign up for and complete a 5K race.
3. My final "resolution" if you can call it that is to get my health in order! I'm going to be diligent about taking my meds at the correct times and not forgetting them as well as taking the appropriate vitamins and supplements I need. NO MORE TRIPS TO THE HOSPITAL in 2013!!! In addition, I'm going to take the giant leap of calling the fertility specialist and getting the program started with that. I've prayed for so long that God will bless our family with a child but he's not going to answer my prayers without me taking the right steps too.
Wish me luck on all this and most of all, include our family in your prayers. Hopefully I'll be better about checking in with you throughout the year on here but I'm not promising anything.
We will think of each of you as the new year dawns and pray that you receive many blessings for you and your families throughout the year.
God Bless and Happy New Year!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Update on my 2012 Project
So my "big" project for 2012 was to read more-both the number of books and how much time I spend doing it. So far this month I've finished 5 books and just started on my 6th. 
This was my "bathroom" book. (maybe TMI but deal with it) I would read a few pages everytime I went in there so it took me awhile to get through but not because of the material. Such funny stories from a southern woman who thinks that everyone should follow the same Southern ideals as her and her friends-whom she all calls "Tammy". Hilarious read and great for quick laughs.
I was introduced to Clyde Edgerton's writings in high school. My parents had some of his books so I picked them up. In college, I wrote a paper in my freshman English class on one. I've always really enjoyed his style of writing and how he recreates the setting and time period so you feel like you're there even if you've never experienced it yourself. He does that again in this new book. It's set in the early 60's in small-town, North Carolina (insert any small town from that era) where race has become a huge issue. Never having lived during this era much less in a small town like that you would think that I had a difficult time relating but he makes all the characters much more than "a character in a book". You actually feel like you know them, even in such a small number of pages. The only thing that I didn't connect with was the characters passion for musice. What connects Larry Lime with the white kid he works with is them feeling music when they make it not just playing it for entertainment. I'm not, nor have I ever been, musically inclined so that plot line was something that I glossed over but understood is the thing that drew these boys from, literally, opposite sides of the tracks to each other. Overall, I thought this was great southern literature and really captured the sentiment of people from this time period.
This was my "bathroom" book. (maybe TMI but deal with it) I would read a few pages everytime I went in there so it took me awhile to get through but not because of the material. Such funny stories from a southern woman who thinks that everyone should follow the same Southern ideals as her and her friends-whom she all calls "Tammy". Hilarious read and great for quick laughs.
I was introduced to Clyde Edgerton's writings in high school. My parents had some of his books so I picked them up. In college, I wrote a paper in my freshman English class on one. I've always really enjoyed his style of writing and how he recreates the setting and time period so you feel like you're there even if you've never experienced it yourself. He does that again in this new book. It's set in the early 60's in small-town, North Carolina (insert any small town from that era) where race has become a huge issue. Never having lived during this era much less in a small town like that you would think that I had a difficult time relating but he makes all the characters much more than "a character in a book". You actually feel like you know them, even in such a small number of pages. The only thing that I didn't connect with was the characters passion for musice. What connects Larry Lime with the white kid he works with is them feeling music when they make it not just playing it for entertainment. I'm not, nor have I ever been, musically inclined so that plot line was something that I glossed over but understood is the thing that drew these boys from, literally, opposite sides of the tracks to each other. Overall, I thought this was great southern literature and really captured the sentiment of people from this time period.Wednesday, January 11, 2012
The Christmas Wedding
I just finished my second book of the year...I'm trying to read more this year (another resolution). This time I read one of the many books I got for Christmas-James Patterson's The Christmas Wedding. This is not a crime/mystery book like he normally writes but rather a love story. I kept waiting for a surprise ending-I guess we've become used to some big twist at the end of so many stories but this was just a simple and honest love story. The characters are all easily likeable and I felt like I knew each of them by the end even though the book is only 266 pages. Another great and quick read for anyone.
Buttermilk Ranch Chicken
Buttermilk Ranch ChickenI found this recipe in my latest Rachael Ray magazine (it's online too) and tried it out last night. It was SO good! I let the chicken marinate in the buttermilk mixture overnight and I think that really let the flavors sink into the meat. It was super easy and a great meal for a weeknight.
Ingredients:
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 tsp. dried mustard
1 tbsp. chopped fresh chives
1/2 tsp. dried dill
Salt and pepper
4 thin-cut chicken breast cutlets
2 tbsp. oil
Combine all ingredients up to oil; marinate 45 minutes (or overnight). In large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat; brown cutlets on both sides until cooked through, about 7 minutes.
http://www.rachaelraymag.com/Recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-search/fast-recipes/buttermilk-ranch-chicken
Friday, January 6, 2012
Nostalgia and Pain
This post is about 2 COMPLETELY unrelated topics...
One of the things that motivated me to start this blog in the first place was sharing the books that I read. I know that I always get suggestions from friends of mine as to what to read next so I thought I could pay that forward (or back ) a little by posting about the books that I like.
I read my first book of the New Year yesterday. Yes. I read it all in one day (it was pretty slow at work). And I Couldn't. Put. It. Down.
For anyone who remembers the Sweet Valley High books from your younger years, the author has written a new book set when the girls have grown up and are now 27 and living their own lives. Elizabeth is now in New York, while Jessica is still in Sweet Valley. The book starts and you discover the girls have had some horrible fight where Elizabeth vows to never speak to much less see Jessica ever again. Without spoiling too much of the plot, the book follows many of the old characters from the earlier books and has some interesting twists and turns throughout. I'd definitely recommend it if you were into these characters way back when and want something to read that doesn't take much brain power.
My other topic relates to one of my (seemingly many) New Year's Resolutions. Everyone's favorite-working out. We have a gym membership that we never use. That seems to be common among a lot of people. When we first signed up, we did great. Then I got sick. Not to use that as an excuse but for so many months I didn't have any energy or was swollen from the medicine and felt like I couldn't do anything. It took me almost a month to get back to work full time. We also have a treadmill in the house that rarely-if ever-gets used. You would think with both of these options that I would be a little better at it. But I'm not.
DH and I both made a vow that after Christmas and beginning in the New Year we would be better at working out. I also am using a Nurse coach through my health plan at work and my goal this month is to work out at least 1 time a week. Not a lot but I think she wanted to feel like I could reach the goal and possibly even exceed a little. Last night was the night we set aside this week to make it happen. I got home from work and immediately changed into workout clothes so that I couldn't get comfy on the couch and back out. Of course, DH ended up having a SUPER busy day at work and couldn't get away til late. It's a 45 minute ride for him home and we still had to eat dinner at some time. I took control of my situation and decided that I was going to use the treadmill in the bonus room even if we couldn't make it to the gym itself. How great I felt when I got done. I admit, I only did 30 minutes of a "Power Walk Program" on the machine but it's something and way more than I've done in so many months. You always have to start somewhere, right? One week down, 3 to go to meet my goal!
One of the things that motivated me to start this blog in the first place was sharing the books that I read. I know that I always get suggestions from friends of mine as to what to read next so I thought I could pay that forward (or back ) a little by posting about the books that I like.
I read my first book of the New Year yesterday. Yes. I read it all in one day (it was pretty slow at work). And I Couldn't. Put. It. Down.
For anyone who remembers the Sweet Valley High books from your younger years, the author has written a new book set when the girls have grown up and are now 27 and living their own lives. Elizabeth is now in New York, while Jessica is still in Sweet Valley. The book starts and you discover the girls have had some horrible fight where Elizabeth vows to never speak to much less see Jessica ever again. Without spoiling too much of the plot, the book follows many of the old characters from the earlier books and has some interesting twists and turns throughout. I'd definitely recommend it if you were into these characters way back when and want something to read that doesn't take much brain power.
My other topic relates to one of my (seemingly many) New Year's Resolutions. Everyone's favorite-working out. We have a gym membership that we never use. That seems to be common among a lot of people. When we first signed up, we did great. Then I got sick. Not to use that as an excuse but for so many months I didn't have any energy or was swollen from the medicine and felt like I couldn't do anything. It took me almost a month to get back to work full time. We also have a treadmill in the house that rarely-if ever-gets used. You would think with both of these options that I would be a little better at it. But I'm not.
DH and I both made a vow that after Christmas and beginning in the New Year we would be better at working out. I also am using a Nurse coach through my health plan at work and my goal this month is to work out at least 1 time a week. Not a lot but I think she wanted to feel like I could reach the goal and possibly even exceed a little. Last night was the night we set aside this week to make it happen. I got home from work and immediately changed into workout clothes so that I couldn't get comfy on the couch and back out. Of course, DH ended up having a SUPER busy day at work and couldn't get away til late. It's a 45 minute ride for him home and we still had to eat dinner at some time. I took control of my situation and decided that I was going to use the treadmill in the bonus room even if we couldn't make it to the gym itself. How great I felt when I got done. I admit, I only did 30 minutes of a "Power Walk Program" on the machine but it's something and way more than I've done in so many months. You always have to start somewhere, right? One week down, 3 to go to meet my goal!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Fixin's for the Cold
So yesterday's HIGH temperature was 39!
WAAAYYYY to cold for me. And we had nothing laid out for dinner which meant that sometime during the day I had to come up with something to cook that would both feed us and warm us up (and hopefully have enough leftovers for lunch today). What a better choice than Chili?? I found a recipe on Better Homes and Gardens that looked really easy and I didn't have to buy a lot for from the grovery store. It turned out to be great! With a little cornbread on the side and served over rice, it was the perfect dinner.
In case anyone else wants to try it...
Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup chopped green sweet pepper (1 small)
1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 15 ounce can tomato sauce
1 15 ounce can red kidney beans, undrained
1 14 1/2 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
2-3 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Chopped onion (optional)
Dairy sour cream (optional)
Crushed red pepper (optional)
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup chopped green sweet pepper (1 small)
1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 15 ounce can tomato sauce
1 15 ounce can red kidney beans, undrained
1 14 1/2 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
2-3 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Chopped onion (optional)
Dairy sour cream (optional)
Crushed red pepper (optional)
Directions
1. In a 3-quart saucepan cook and stir ground beef, sweet pepper, 1/2 cup chopped onion, and the garlic over medium heat until meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain off fat.
2. Stir in tomato sauce, undrained beans, undrained tomatoes, chili powder, salt, basil, and black pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. To serve, ladle chili into bowls. If desired, top each serving with cheese, chopped onion, and/or sour cream and pass crushed red pepper. Makes 4 main-dish servings.
1. In a 3-quart saucepan cook and stir ground beef, sweet pepper, 1/2 cup chopped onion, and the garlic over medium heat until meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain off fat.
2. Stir in tomato sauce, undrained beans, undrained tomatoes, chili powder, salt, basil, and black pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. To serve, ladle chili into bowls. If desired, top each serving with cheese, chopped onion, and/or sour cream and pass crushed red pepper. Makes 4 main-dish servings.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Happy New Year
Happy New Year!
I'm so ready for 2012. Of course 2011 ended much like the rest of the year has gone. We came to Charlotte (well really Rock Hill, SC) to hang out with some friends and had plans to go to a small bar in town to ring in the year change, however, my good friend colitis has decided to arrive on the same day.
Being so new to this disease, I still have very little understanding of how.it works or what aggravated it. One day, I can eat something and be fine but another I can eat the same thing and be in the bathroom for hours (sorry- that was probably too much information). New Years turned out to be the 2nd option. Needless to say, we stayed at our friends house and hung out with Ryan Seacrest and Dick Clark. Frustrating to say the least.
At least I'm alive and healthy otherwise.
O hope everyone has a fantastic 2012 and that tons of blessings are given to each. Here's to health, wealth and happiness. Cheers!
Auld Lang Syne!
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