Project

I finished this blanket last night. Oh, it is so soft and fun. I am currently working on a lot of baby blankets. I have two nephews that will be born this summer and three close friends that are expecting later in the summer. I know that some (either my sister-in-laws or friends) will probably see some future baby gifts, but I also want to share these with you. Enjoy

Thanks

Thank you Mom and my mother-in-law!! I love my birthday gifts!! These two wonderful women really know me and love me. My mom got me the quilting book and my mom-in-law made the brown purse for me. The purse is the same color as my favorite skirt and goes perfectly with so many things I own. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. Thanks again and I love you both!!

Hungry

When I am hungry, all I can think about is what I want to eat. I think about how much effort I want to put into a meal or snack. And I weigh how healthy my options are with how yummy it will taste. If I don't have time to eat at that moment...most of my thoughts are still on food until I can get it in my mouth. I notice sometimes that I'm salivating as I think about what to eat or as I am preparing my food. Why do I have this obsession with what I am to eat? Does it have something to do with knowing I'll get grumpy if I don't eat? I don't usually over eat. I also choose mostly healthy food. And I know my preferences, salty over sweet...mild over spicy...I like all textures but especially those with textures like yogurt or pudding. As I speech therapist I analyse these choices and come up with no answers for myself (though I have often found the most interesting parallels with children and their choices in food and their speech patterns). And now after sharing all of that and eating a juicy orange and writing this post. The result is that I'm less hungry and my keyboard is sticky but I'm still planning on what to eat next...since it is lunch time and an orange is just the appetizer. Bon apetite!

Tomatoes

I started my tomatoes last week and look how nice they look. Every morning when I get up, I go to the front room to check on my tomatoes...and I'm never disappointed...they keep growing. Yipee...I'm hoping to get some really nice tomatoes before August when we are moving.

Most of you know that I love growing things, which is probably why my apartment is full of plants. Someday I'll actually live in my own place, and it will have a yard, and I will plant outdoors. I'm also glad that SM likes to have a variety of plants and wants to try growing all sorts of things...at least that 's what it sounds like when we are daydreaming about what our lives will be like when we have our own house.

It's my birthday!!

Yippee!! One of my favorite times of the year!! My birthday...I had my birthday this week and was blessed to hear from so many family members by phone and email. One of my brother's called at 5:30 am his time, to be the first one to wish me 'Happy Birthday' from the West Coast. My grandparents even called to sing me "Happy Birthday" in their unique way. (This unique way is not really melodious but is great to hear Grandma's high voice with Grandpa's gravelly low voice). I even got a triple chocolate cake and banana bread from my walking buddies. (see previous posts)

I really felt loved to hear from so many people and I just wanted to say a big "Thank You" to everyone who expressed their love for me. I am truely blessed to be loved by so many dear and wonderful people.

I for those of you wondering what I got for my birthday...I got these socks (and an exact matching pair to this pair) from my sister-in-law and her family; Photoshop Elements (to help me become more digitally savy) and a nice watercolor kit that has new paints, brushes, and palate. I am so excited to use all my gifts and hopefully you all will see the results of such.

So, once again, "Thanks" for making my special day so so so special.

Valentine tribute to my Sister

This is my sister!! And I always think of her on Valentine's Day!! Little Magoo has always tried to make Valentine's Day fun for both of us. I remember that on some Valentines' we went out to dinner, just the two of us, or another time she gave me a very cute bear. It is really easy for me to tell her that I love her. She is so easy to love!

So, Little Magoo, I want to thank you for your phone call yesterday! I had a fabulous Valentine's Day because you called and told me that you loved me. I love you!!

P.S. You probably will hear more about this awesome person because I can't stop talking about her.

Funny Story

These are my walking buddies. We try to go every day...except when it's too wet. The little one (let's call her Sweets) is so much fun and she likes to be in her stroller as we walk. She has started rocking back and forth as we walk, which to me, seems like she is saying "faster, faster, go faster." Sweets' mom is really careful to bundle her up so that she stays warm. In fact, one day she was bundled so much that she fell asleep and her head didn't even drop down...she was surrounded by blankets that she couldn't even move her head.

So, I have to tell you about todays walk. My friend with her baby were unable to go since her sweet hubby had invited her to go to lunch for Valentines Day. So it was just me and my other friend. We both were a little slower today...I blame that on my hurt toe...but we definitely were enjoying our walk. And we walked to our turn around point and turned around and began our trek up....yes, up. The first part of our walk is pretty much down hill and so after we turn around we push our bodies back up hill. (Please understand it's not a steep hill...it is very gradual but noticeable on the way back home). My friend and I got about halfway home when I spotted someones' trash. You know the saying about one man's trash is another man's treasure. Well, let's just say that I turned around and my friend and I grabbed a pile of boxes that had been put in the recycleable garbage. I think we found around 15 boxes (that were folded flat). I have another friend that is currently moving from one house to another house in the area and knew that she would need some boxes. Plus, we will be moving in six months and I, most definitely, will need some boxes. AND SO, just picture how funny this looks...two grown women...taking boxes off of someone's front lawn and hauling them at least a half a mile to my apartment. Our arms were shaking by the time we got home and mine still are...which has made typing this post a bit difficult.

Anyway, I just had to share that story...I was sort of embarrassed but not enough to NOT do it. Plus, with my friend there doing it also, it made it a lot easier to do. Enjoy!

I've been tagged

So, my beautiful and sassy SIL (sister-in-law) tagged me. And since the topic is one that I absolutely love...of course I'm going to do it...it's about SM (Sweet Man)!

What is his full name? Well for this blog his name is SM...which has been used for many names such as "Sweet Man," "Smart Man," or "Some Man" just kidding with the last one...

How long have you been married? We will have been married four years in March...oh how time does fly! And it has been a very wonderful almost four years!!

Who eats more sweets? SM of course...he would like to include them in every meal and snack but that's not exactly healthy. The other night we were talking and he said that we need to go back to Germany soon so that he can pick up more chocolate...what? Apparently the chocolate is calling to him.

Who said I love you first? He did...I'm almost positive...I could never tell guys that I loved them. I wonder when I actually said it back to him, probably not until we were engaged to be married.

How old is he? Just recently turned 34.

Who is taller? Halleluiah, it is him! The reason I love this so much is that before SM I was dating many guys that were around my height. Some were a little taller, some were a little shorter, but most of the time I could stare straight into their eyes. Not with SM...I think he is six or seven inches taller than me.

Who is smarter? Book smarts-SM. Street smarts-Me. But we both can bluff our way and make it seem like we know the answer to a question when we really have no idea.

Who can sing better? That depends on who you ask...if you ask him, he'll say he sings better, if you ask me I'll say that I sing better. In the end it's just nice that we both sing. (Oh yes, you should hear the two of us singing for FHE, family home evening, on Monday nights...sometimes I wonder if the neighbors can hear us and wonder what is going on).

Who does the laundry? Me right now. Last year when I was working he'd do it some of the time.

Who pays the bills? Depends on the bills. I pay rent, he pays the credit cards, I pay with checks, he pays online...and so on.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? That also depends...If it's the right when you're looking at it from the foot, he does. If it's when you're laying in it, I do.

Who mows the lawn? Lawn, what lawn? Even if we owned a home here in VA, no one has a real lawn...that is, you don't have to mow it very often...probably only once or twice a month...the ground doesn't get enough sunlight for the grass to really grow. Too many trees.

Who cooks dinner? Me, me and me

Who drives? He does, unless I am taking him to the metro or picking him up from the metro. He actually doesn't relax very much when I am driving. I keep telling him that he needs me to drive more often so that he can get used to my driving...I did that with him...at first I was really nervous about his driving but not any longer.

Who is more stubborn? Do I really have to answer that question? I actually think it is him...but he may disagree with that answer.

Who kissed who first? He stole a kiss when I wasn't expecting it. I actually got angry but got over it quickly.

Who asked who out? Well...that's an interesting question...our mothers' set up our first date, so I guess you could say neither of us asked either one of us out. But after that first date, SM asked me out.

Who has more siblings? SM does...but only by one.

Who wears the pants? I let him have them...they fit him better.

Well, that's it. I hope you all have learned something new about SM. I think he is the most awesome and amazing and wonderful person alive and I might be a little bit prejudice. I am so grateful to be a part of his life and can't wait to grow old together.

I love you, SM!

Ice Storm

Last night we received an ice storm. I have lived here in Virginia for three and a half years and never experienced a storm like this before. Oh, I have heard about them from Virginia-dwellers but after actually experienced it...I believe every story ever told to me.

An ice storm happens when it rains small droplets of water but it is so cold that when the water hits the ground it then freezes. Yesterday afternoon I was doing some scrapbooking on the computer and had on the TV. During the time for commercials, the meterologist would come on and talk about the "rain" and then the traffic guy would tell about all the accidents, especially those on bridges and ramps. Five car pile-up, ten car pile-up, twenty car pile-up and show the pictures to prove it. Being the naive person that I am, I was sad that all those people were in accidents and stuck in traffic but didn't think it had anything to do with me. AND then I went to pick up SM from the metro.

Let's just say, I almost didn't make it to the car alive. As soon as I stepped on the front steps of our apartment building, I lost any traction my shoes usually have. One leg went back and the other went forward. The reason I know they went back and forth instead of side to side, it that I totally injured my toes when my foot bent on the toes and pushed them back farther than they are supposed to go. Ouch! I quickly tried to regain my balance by moving my feet again and this time I got closer to the edge of the front step. I grabbed at anything I could find and found myself hanging onto a large bush with every leaf covered in ice. It was really a creepy feeling.

Finally I realized I could manuver the sidewalk if I just slowly sloshed my feet forward without lifting them off the ground. And as I made it to the asphalt, I realized that there was no more ice...except all over the car. The ice had formed a coating about a fourth of an inch thick. I was worried I wouldn't be able to get the door open, but it opened without a problem. I found my ice scrapper and was delighted to find that the opposite side of the scrapper has these ridges that help break up ice that may sheet your whole car.

Finally I had all the windows cleared and I was ready to hit the roads. I was really worried but our city had already been out and put a de-icer on the roads. They were only wet...whew!! I was late picking SM up from the metro and so he decided to start walking home. The only problem with that was I drove right past him and didn't see him at all (of course it was dark and he was in a black coat) and so he had to walk back to the metro to find me. Oh well...what a night.

And because of my sore toes and the nasty weather outside, I didn't go to an Enrichment Night where we learn about different cultures and places. Last nights was on Italy. I would have loved to gone but I don't drive well in the dark, let alone under those icy conditions.

Loved Ones

These are my grandparents. I love them so much! They are my mother's parents and are the only grandparents I have that are alive. (Though I did gain some more grandparents when I married SM). My grandma has a birthday next week. She is turning 80 years old. Gramps is two years older than her.

My grandparents are so unique. They are not your typical grandparents. Grandma doesn't bake sweets for her grandkids and Grandpa loves to yell loud enough to see if you'll jump out of your skin but they are the best grandparents ever. And I was lucky to be very close to them as I was growing up. It helps that they only lived two houses down from us. One of my favorite memories about my grandparents is that every Christmas they would give our family a box of Clementines...oh, so yummy and juicy and so treasured. Mom would dole them out one at a time and only one per day.

Oh, I have so many different memories of them. Another memory was from church. Because they lived on the same street as us, they were also in our ward. Gramps would carry mints from Canada (Gramps and Grandma are from Alberta, Canada) in his Sunday jacket and when we would greet him before church began, he would slip a mint into our hands and then put his finger to his lips in a secretive gesture. It was our secret...well, as secretive as it could be with as many grandchildren he had in the ward. But what a great memory. I loved growing up with them as neighbors.

So, I just wanted to share these special people with you! I wish you all could meet them and feel for them what I feel for them. They are wonderful!

Oh, I forgot to add, these pictures were taken by my sister-in-law, Andrea. She does an awesome job.

I really like this

This is my most recent project. I finished it last night. Isn't it cute? I love the design on the material. I saw it at the store and couldn't pass it by without buying some of it. I didn't know what I'd do with it, but I knew that I wanted to do something with it.

And here is a picture of the material even closer...and look at the purple crochetted border. This is the first time I did a largish blanket with this type of border. And I also tied the quilt with a green thread on the grass portions of the design of the material. And the back of the blanket is a cute green flannel. Oh, so soft. (p.s. I'm having issues with the formating of this post...I really don't want it to look like this but I can't fix it...oh well).

Spring?

So, the weather is being so strange. Today was dark, cloudy, windy, humid and didn't look very inviting...but, it was over 70 degrees. It was warm enought that when I went walking with my walking partners, we all wore short sleeve shirts. Now, according to the season (winter) we will be getting the cold weather back by this weekend, but it was nice while it lasted.

Meatballs

Last night I tried another dish for the first time...don't worry, I am not always like this. Usually I go for the same old stuff until I get the bug to try new dishes. Anyway, I made meatballs for the first time in my life. They were also very good. Here's the recipe if you'd like to make them also.

Sweet & Saucy Meatballs (The Pampered Chef – Its Good for You)
Prep time: 20 minutes
Bake time: 30 minutes

Meatballs
¼ cup chopped onion
1 package (1 ¼ pounds) 93% lean ground turkey
1 egg white
¼ cup seasoned dry bread crumbs
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 garlic clove, pressed
½ teaspoon salt

Sauce
1 can (8 ounces) jellied cranberry sauce
¼ cup ketchup
¼ cup orange marmalade
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Chop onion. Combine turkey, onion, egg white, bread crumbs, thyme, pressed garlic and salt; mix gently but thoroughly.

2. Using a spoon, shape meat mixture into balls; place in a single layer over bottom of a baking dish. Bake 15 minutes; drain.

3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine cranberry sauce, ketchup, marmalade, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce; mix well. Pour sauce over meatballs; mix gently to coat meatballs evenly. Return to oven; continue baking 15 minutes. Stir gently before serving.

Yield: 10 servings (about 40 meatballs)
Nutrients per serving (4 meatballs): Calories 170 (19% from fat), Total Fat 3.5 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 35 mg, Carbohydrate 23 g, Protein 12 g, Sodium 340 mg, Fiber less than 1 g.

As always, I modified this recipe also. I didn't buy seasoned bread crumbs...just the plain and then seasoned it to my own palate. I also added more onions and garlic...yum!

More Food

This week has been full of trying new dishes. Or, I guess my life is boring enough that I only cook...no, that's not really it either. Oh, well...I just wanted to share this new recipe with all of you. It was yummy! (And since I bought so many veggies...I'll be making it again this week).

Teriyaki Pork Stir-Fry (Pampered Chef – It’s Good for You)

2/3 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
¼ cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 teaspoon peeled, finely chopped fresh gingerroot
2 garlic cloves, pressed
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 pound boneless pork loin chops, cut into 1/8 inch strips
2 cups uncooked instant whole grain brown rice
1 medium red bell pepper, cut into ¼ inch strips
6 ounces fresh snow peas, trimmed
1 bunch green onions with tops, cut into 1 inch pieces (about 6-8)
1 teaspoon sesame oil, divided
1 can (8 ounces) bamboo shoots, drained
(I also like to add broccoli, julienned carrots, mung beans and mushrooms)

1. In a bowl, combine soy sauce, brown sugar and cornstarch; whisk until blended. Finely shop gingerroot and pressed garlic and add it to soy sauce mixture along with red pepper flakes.

2. Cut pork into 1/8 inch thick strips. Add pork to soy sauce mixture; toss to coat. Cover; refrigerate 15 minutes to marinate.

3. Meanwhile, cook rice according to directions. Cut bell pepper into ¼ inch strips; trim snow peas and cut green onions into 1-inch pieces.

4. Heat ½ teaspoon of the oil in skillet over high heat until hot. Remove pork from marinade; add to skillet, reserving marinade. Stir-fry 1-2 minutes or until pork is no longer pink. Remove from skillet; keep warm.

5. Heat remaining ½ teaspoon oil in same skillet. Add bell pepper, snow peas and green onions. Stir-fry 2-3 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Return pork to skillet. Stir in reserved marinade and bamboo shoots. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir 1 minutes or until sauce is thickened. Serve over rice.

Yield: 6 servings
Nutrients per serving: Calories 310 (19% calories from fat). Total Fat 6 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 45 mg, Carbohydrate 41 g, Protein 21 g, Sodium 1000 mg, Fiber 4 g.

(Hint: peel fresh gingerroot with a spoon. Just scrape the skin with the spoon.)

I also made this recipe with chicken and not pork. As you can probably tell by the recipes I've been posting, I've been enjoying a lot of Asian types of foods. The fresh gingerroot really makes this recipe and I also always add more garlic than the recipe asks for...I'm a girl that loves garlic!! Oh, and the red pepper flakes give it the kick that makes this a number one recipe for our family. I haven't ever cooked Asian foods and I guess it's something that I never thought I could cook and now that I've got recipes, I've begun to experiement. It's been a whole lot of fun and SM loves to eat it - bonus!!