Friday, December 27, 2013

Good News and Good Cooking

December is usually a very busy month and this year it's been even busier than usual.  I started a new job earlier this month.  So far, it's been great.  Interesting work, nice people and a short commute.  I'm learning, asking questions and taking lots of notes in my notebook.  This job mostly uses my organizational skills. If you know me at all, you know I'm no stranger to lists, checklists, databases, forms or spreadsheets.

The transition to work has been pretty smooth.  And instead of wearing some variation of jeans and a black t-shirt every day, I wear my work clothes.  Shirt with collars!  Necklaces! Shoes without laces! It feels like I'm putting on my grown up costume. 

In an attempt to make dinnertimes easier, I cooked.  Though My Heart's Desire and I have divided the home chores and meals differently now, I wanted to make our evenings as easy as possible.  Babyface goes to bed pretty early and I wanted us to spend time with him rather than over the stove.
A few years ago My Heart's Desire bought a chest freezer (thanks, Craigslist) and both crocks worked overtime to pack it with meals. I filled almost two sets of Pyrex casserole dishes and plenty of plastic containers.  I made mostly standbys and tried one new recipe, light king ranch casserole. When we get to it, I'll let you know how we liked it.

December Dinners
Mac and cheese with broccoli casserole
Three bean chili
Mushroom quiche
Enchiladas
Carnitas
Jambalaya








Chicken tortilla soup
Chicken tortilla soup
Italian-style meatloaf
Light king ranch casserole
Balsamic chicken
Pasta bake

Grandma's old fashioned granola
In addition, I baked five chicken breasts and cut them up to use in future meals or to add to lunchtime salads.  I also made a big batch of Grandma's old fashioned granola for Babyface.

Having dinners ready to go really does make evenings easier. We also have dinner as a family more often, instead of My Heart's Desire and I eating after Babyface goes to bed.  I used to have breakfast with Babyface and My Heart's Desire would have lunch with him, but with our new schedule that doesn't work anymore.  So family dinners are pretty great.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Grateful Thursday

Today I am grateful for family, new and old friends, having become an early riser over the past few years, my festive holiday pedicure, HiFutureSelf app, good news, being able to adjust my expectations, clean laundry, things to look forward to and that Babyface insists on hugging both shoulders equally.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Grateful Thursday

Today I am grateful for central heating, fantastic smelling body wash, go-to earrings and necklace that can dress up any outfit, not taking things personally, consistency, that Babyface loves books, staying in touch with friends in different time zones, healthy cookies (now sans chocolate chips), and really good bad TV shows.

Monday, December 16, 2013

10 Things I Love About the Holidays




 
  1. Getting holiday cards from friends and family, especially those with photos of adorable kids 
  2. Holiday music!  I've been listening to it since before Thanksgiving
  3. Feeling grateful 
  4. Dressing Babyface in ridiculous holiday outfits
  5. Holiday movie classics (yes, I include Love Actually as a classic)
  6. New traditions that My Heart's Desire and I create together
  7. Holiday baking, which is hard this season since I'm sugar-free
  8. Stockings hung by the fireplace
  9. Ornaments from my childhood, especially the ones made on plastic lids with glitter and pipe cleaners for hangers
  10. A white Christmas!

    Monday, December 2, 2013

    November Report

    Now that the whirlwind month of November is over I can report on my first attempt at National Novel Writing Month. Writing an entire book in a month is a very ambitious goal and it is definitely one that got me going.  

    I've been an early riser for the past few years and pushed the alarm back a bit more so that I could write in the mornings before it was time for everyone else to rise and shine.  When Daylight Saving Time ended, it was even darker and colder at 5am.  I loved typing while the rest of the house slept.  I even made a fire or two.  I also snuck out to Starbucks or the library some afternoons with my laptop. 

    Did I write an entire 50k word book? No.  I got in about 15k words.  Did I write more in November than in the previous year cumulatively? Yes.  Having writing on the front burner has me consistently mulling, making notes, and then going back to them and writing. 

    It doesn't matter that I didn't meet the goal of writing the entire book.  Or that my computer has a horrible virus.  And that the backup netbook doesn't work properly. Or that Babyface got sick.  Or the unexpected family tasks.  

    NaNoWriMo helped me include regular writing into my routine.  I plan to continue working on my project.  One of the stories I want to work on as a standalone piece, workshop it and then send it out for consideration.