Monday, May 30, 2011

Half-Meatloaf...Like a Bat out of Hell

So...  my half-meatloaf was a bust.  Totally.  It was a major failure.  But, hey-- that kind of thing happens, right?

Instead, I can give you the perfect recipe for... takeout!  Haha, just kidding.

Happy Memorial Day, everyone!  I've got some exciting news this week.  Well, ok, I've got a potential venture that I'm getting super excited for that I want everyone to cross their fingers for to share with everyone. 

Until tomorrow!

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Set the Rain on Fire

*Sigh* I love Adele.  Don't you?

I have decided today will be a Hippie Dippie Day.  Yes, a Hippie Dippie Day.  I just jumped out of the shower, and threw on some shorts and a black tee, and then all the sudden I just wanted to wear my hemp shirt.  At least, I think it's hemp.  Either way, it's the look.  So I'm sitting here looking like the perfect Beachbunny-Hippie, will crazy, wet, wavy hair, and no makeup.  Such a shame my hair won't cooperate anymore once it's dry...

Today I'm also working on cleaning the kitchen and bathroom, and getting some clothes put away; and I'm also trying out a Half-Meatloaf recipe.  I'll let you know how that goes a little later on, and I'll post some pics!  (Of the Hippie Dippie look, too. I promise!)


What clothes do you feel the most relaxed wearing?

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Baby, come back

So, I've not been very good at this blogging thing.  I'se sowwy.  Will you ever forgive me?  I guess maybe I work too much, or just spend too much time commuting everyday (on top of an 8-hour work day, I spend 4 hours riding A)the Metro, B)The Marc train, and C)The bus to/from work).  I really don't know; maybe I'm just lazy.

But that must stop.  It must, if I want to bond with an make good friends with all you awesome readers across the Internets.

[From Google]

Anywho...I'm gonna be experimenting with a new recipe for Cheesy Garlic Quinoa later on...recipe to follow.

Don't leave me, ok?


Sunday, May 15, 2011

Get'ur Grind On

My [future] stepson and stepdaughter spent the night last night.  We had a good time: KB (the little lady) drew pictures and played with stickers with me, and her brother TJ was on the xbox with his dad.  Then my sweetie decided to fall asleep on the couch, and I was left to entertain/distract both the kids.  The computers (my laptop and his PC) saved. my. life.  KB watched Strawberry Shortcake on Jaroo (<-- have u seen that? it's like Hulu, but just for kids!!) and TJ watched some Power Rangers on Hulu.  Thank you, tv-on-the-internet!

So... who wants to help me clean up the kitchen...?




On another note... I had a pretty good workout today.  I've totally been in a funk lately, and I must admit my eating habits have SUCKKKKKED!!!  Can't help it with all the crap we keep in the house (uhhh, why are you here, Nutty Bars and Tulip cakes?!?)  Well on our recent trip to the grocery store (*Stupid grin*) I stocked up on fruits and veggies.  I have a great new Quinoa Salad recipe (to be posted a little later on), and I'm totally excited.  Diet and fitness kick is back on!


[Here I am after dancing around my living room...aren't I lovely?] 

What is your least favorite housekeeping chore?

Friday, May 13, 2011

What?!??? Sun Shinin' on my Weekend...I hope

My blog from yesterday has mysteriously disappeared-- removed by Blogspot due to some errors they have been having.  And apparently it's not coming back.

Booooooo!

Well, let's see if I can sum this up, then, shall we?  I do believe it was a fabulous post on my love of grocery stores and grocery shopping.  (Yes, I am a huge dork!)  And then my awesome plans for a cookout/picnic this weekend for me, my honey, and our roomate.  I can't 100% remember the menu I had planned, and, well, I didn't pick everything up that was on the list during our trip to the store last night (yaaaaay, store!), so I'll have to revise it a little.  But then, if you haven't seen it anyways, is it still revising?  Oh, well, here's the menu:
~ Hamburgers & Hotdogs or Kielbasa
~ Macaroni Salad
~ Potato Salad (for me, because I'm selfish...and the sweetie doesn't like it anyhow)
~ Quinoa Salad (with green peppers, onion, and tomato)
~ Grilled Zucchini and Banana Squash (OMG! I love squash!)
~ *Probably* Baked French Fries with gravy for dippin'
~ Veggies to snack on (cucumbers, carrots...oh no! I forgot the broccoli!)
~ Cut fruit to snack on (we got watermelon, oranges, strawberries, apples, nanners', mango, and grapes!)
~ Chips and salsa

Oh, Hellooooooo, weekend!

Another plus this Saturday: the honey's son and daughter will be coming over, so I'm excited for that!  We're planning on taking them to a picnic hosted by the honey's mother's company.  Unfortunately it's supposed to rain tomorrow, and we're not sure if the shindig is a rain or shine thing, so we may end up all hanging out at home.  In which case I should probably have a backup plan for food and fun.  Got to get working on that! 

Wish me luck, and I hope you have just as great a weekend as I plan to have!


What are your favorite rainy day activities?

Thursday, May 12, 2011

...I Like Grocery Stores

For as long as I can remember my favorite past time has been...grocery shopping.  No, really.  Case in point, I'm sitting here writing up a grocery list for my honey to take to the store...and I can't be more excited.  I'm walking down the aisles in my head.  Once I am finished, I will spend the next hour going back over the list in my head, and calling him every time I realize I have forgotten something.

[Oh, a Shoppin' we will go...]

His response will most likely be that, according to my list, he should pick up one of each fruit, one of each vegetable, one of each bread selection, and everything in between.  Which is so not true.  --we don't need onions or garlic because we already have a few of each.

I'm excited for this weekend, though.  I'm thinking: cookout.  I'm thinking classic/traditional as fattening as you can get cookout.  We just have to pick up my camping grill from my parents house, and a solution for the dogs so they can stay outside with us (without sneaking away to explore!!).  The meal I'm planning looks something like this:
Meat Product
(haven't decided what protein to cook, yet)
Potato Salad
Quinoa Salad (perhaps)
Grilled Squash
Grilled Peppers
Corn
Fruit salad, plain fruit to snack on, or parfaits
(watermelon, grapes, strawberries, apples, oranges, 'nanners)
Veggies to snack on
...and most likely chips and dip/salsa and/or cheese and crackers

Talk about a feast...for 3 people.  Maybe we'll invite some friends over...


What do you remember the most about summer cookouts?  What are/were the staples at your family cookouts?
I remember that my family finally took the time to slow down and enjoy a meal together!  We stuck to the basics: we always had hamburgers, hot dogs, and corn, but everything else varied depending on our moods (and the items in our kitchen).


Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Hmmm: A Challenge

I'm having a love affair with the song Heartbeats.  Now I had heard The Knife's (original) version of the song in passing, but I think the lyrics really hit me when I heard Jose Gonzalez' version slow it down--alot.


[That's The Knife]


[and that is Jose Gonzalez]


Both the original and Gonzalez' mix are fabulous, but they make me feel differently.  The song captures perfectly a moment in Vigi Mathers' new project Infernal Legacy...but the problem is I just can't decide which version it is that evokes the right emotions/feelings for me.  How can one song, with one set of lyrics produce such different, far-ranging emotions?

This got me to thinking.  Perhaps you can help.  I think we'll even make a little contest out of this one.
1. Listen to each version of the song Heartbeats.  The KnifeJose Gonzalez.
2. How does each version make you feel?  Write down a list of feelings, emotions, adjectives, whatever comes to mind while you're hearing each version of the song. (Post in the comments below)
 3. Shoot!  If you want, write your own short story or poem based on your interpretation of the song, its music, and its lyrics.  Then e-mail 'em to me and I'll compile a nice page with all the submissions for your viewing pleasure.  Who knows?  Perhaps this could become a thing.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Why, Do I Do That to You?

Sometimes I just can't help it.  Well, ok, most of the time I can't help it, but I am a complete witch.  Only substitute a b- for that w-.

[Yep, that's me]

Now, I'm very honest about the fact that I'm bipolar-- and, for the record, I was bipolar before Catherine Zeta-Jones and Demi Lovato made it "ok" -- but sometimes I have no clue what the hell is wrong with me!  Seriously, have you ever had to sit back and just think "WTF is your problem, Looney Tune?!?"


[Yes, you, Psycho!]

So, my sweetie has been MIA on business for the past three weeks, and during that time we really didn't get much of a chance to talk.  A sane normal person would be ecstatic upon his return, no?  A normal person would be happy just to have him home, and to be able to finally talk.  Nope, not me!  My crazy ass decides that I'm going to get mad; angry; irritable; just downright bitchy.

The worst thing?  I know I'm wrong.  I just don't know what is setting me off, so I have no clue when said bitch is going to surface during the course of our conversations.  I know, I know: I live an enviable life, people.
[Uh, yeah.  Right.]

But, seriously, I appreciate my fiance.  I love him with every fiber in my body, and I wouldn't trade him for anything!  (Accept maybe.... ok, nothing.)


Do you have that one person in your life who you just can't help but love && hate, all at the same time?

Friday, May 6, 2011

You Write the Story of my Life...

This is totally unrelated to...anything, and completely beside the point, but...

I want Slexie back!!!!!

[Oh, McSteamy, why are you so gorgeous!?!]

May the Force be With...Me?

I am not having such a good time with this whole lifestyle and diet change-thing.  Well, in fact, I am not having such a good time with this whole life-thing at all.

[I feel like ^this^.  It isn't very attractive.]

Everything just seems to be going... wrong.  Or, perhaps a better explanation would be that things - nothing, actually - seems to be going to plan or at all favorably.  Things suck. 

I've got financial woes out the ass so even though I do fairly well in the salary arena, I never seem to come out ahead.  (Actually, more often than not I come out faaaaaar behind...still)  And, never one to be unsupportive of the sweetheart, I also deal with his stressors.  Afterall, he and I are going to be a we, so his problems are my problems, too.  Add to all this the 19 year old we invited to be our roommate... when did I have a kid?  I don't remember giving birth, but apparently I am now a crazed lunatic who is becoming her parents way too fast proud mother.

And I know... I know it will get better with time.  Be patient, be optimistic, and never give up, those are the virtues I have to which I must cling.  Although, ya know, sometimes I would much rather just give in to the nut job inside me (...as if I don't already...); things would all be so much easier then.  It was Teddy Roosevelt an African proverb that said "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far" -- I like big sticks, and I like how those Africans rolled. 


Well, on a brighter note...or maybe just on a note that cheers me up ever so slightly, Katie over at Making this Home posted this today.  I had to smile.  If you don't then I guess you just don't have a soul........  I kid, I kid.


How do you handle stressful times in your life?  What do you use as inspiration to keep you motivated?