Recipes to try out

Along with Monday's post, which came about last week, is a list of food items I want to make sure to have on hand.

Thought I'd share it there. Just in the last week since re-thinking through food/time stuff (which I find I need to do every so often) I've been less tempted to quick grab something since I know we have amazing stuff at home. I created the following list that I'm sure I already have somewhere.

• Smoothie ingredients - 100% juice, milk or yogurt, bananas, berries and/or frozen fruit
• Fruit - we've just been going through it so fast...it's more of a reminder to get more on the weekly trips
• Hummus ingredients - chickpeas, lemon, garlic, sesame seeds or paste, carrots and/or pita for dipping
• Potatoes (making "fries" verses picking them up) - potatoes, seasoning, onion
• pb & j - so simple, so healthy if you go with the right ingredients (100% fruit jam, natural pb, and whole wheat bread)
• Dark chocolate - over 70% has healing benefits
• Almonds
• Popcorn ingredients - popping corn, olive oil, salt
• Oatmeal cookie ingredients... (not necessarily healthy, but a fun snack to have on hand)

Good stuff, right!?

Also, if you are looking to add some new recipes to your repertoire, Whole Foods has a decent recipe section/finder. You can find it here...  It has a lot of options for narrowing it down to any specifics you have too (budget friendly, vegetarian, no dairy, etc.).

Things I want to do

There are so many things I want to do, when I remember them.

They are such simple things, but at times, hard for me to remember...especially in feeling tired in the morning and in the evening an in any down time.  Therefore the tv has been on more than I'd like and I've been stopping to get something quick to eat much more than I like...  I have been tempting time.

I'm not saying that I/Evee and I (since Clint is so much better at both of these than I) have to be doing something all the time or that eating out or watching tv are bad (believe me, I can love both of these things).  And, I certainly don't mean days like I posted about on Monday - that is actually the kind of days I'm talking about having more of! 

And this post really isn't about what I'm not going to do at all.  But, instead a reminder of all the things that I do want to do and that, in the end, are so much healthier and more beneficial to me.

This summer I made a list of things I wanted to get to when there was free time, which often I think we just need to make happen.  I'll start with that list and go from there... (I've actually done one thing on my list, so I'll take that off...smile).  I warn you, this is a very random list. 

• Make a wrap around skirt or elastic one
• Create a list of books to read – I have this partially started, but need to get a list for the year since I was going to read at least one book a month.  
• Make a blanket/quilt
• Find free stuff on craigslist (that would be useful) 
• Go to rummage sales/garage sales/opt shops (I have a short list of things I'd look for)
• Make a hanging note to myself about staying present, loving people, peace/simplicity
• Crafting in general - crocheting, sewing
• Start making bread and hummus regularly again
• Get info to garden in the spring - maybe start early and create if from seeds this year...
• Research local farms and opportunities to eat better, not just healthier...if that makes sense  (thanks for the reminder Josh!)
  

Couches & comfy jammies

After a fuller weekend, Evee napped on Sunday, Clint was watching golf, and I slept on the couch.  I can't always take naps (like I can't actually fall asleep), so it is wonderful when I am so relaxed (and tired) and the opportunity presents itself. 

Comfort is so wonderful.  Since we both got up around 6 pm, Evee put on some new jammies (that we got for free!), we stuck to the couch, and it remained such a great evening at home.  I am so very thankful for afternoon/evenings like this.

 

 

Working with my hands

I am thankful for work that can be done with my hands and things that can be seen as accomplished.  Finished.

And I need to remember to do it more often.

I started to crochet some mittens for myself since my ones of many years in cold weather are slowly unraveling.

The ones I started turned out to be too small, but the perfect size for my friends cold, small hands (she's probably fine, I'm just implying that they are oh so cold).  So, now I will get to make a second pair for myself.  Kind of fun and they don't take too long (if I actually work on them!).

I'm looking forward to other hand working things that will come this spring - hoping to garden again.  Not sure if we'll get a plot within our community or do a potted garden on the porch.  In these cold days pulling weeds and being outside for long periods of time sound so wonderful.

Too bad these days I'm not enjoying other work with my hands...like cleaning the bathroom or dusting.  Hoping to get to those things soon...

Expectations

I have a few notes of things I am thankful for and a bunch are from this weekend - thoughts and gratitude.  So, those are coming...it's good to have a place that forces, in a sense, me to get these things out.  To put those thoughts, that at times can be so fleeting, onto "paper" and dwell on them longer than I normally would.

Tonight, though, I feel like defending myself.  Sometimes when I know I should do something, but don't have the energy and didn't follow through on it (even though I didn't say I would, but still knew it should be done), I have the desire to defend my life as it is right now. 

I've said it before...Even though I don't love our pace right now, this is where we are at and it is good.  And, it will change once summer hits (granted, there will be a baby as well, but still a slower change of pace...smile.). 

Sometimes I want to say, "I work a full 40 hours (sometimes more) each week, mostly with my 2 year old in tow; I am a wife and mom; I make meals for my family; I am pregnant and not done with the being tired phase; I am so tired each night at the end of my day; my husband is in grad. school full time; my husband also works part time; my husband still does stuff around the house; my own house is not clean right now; we've had a lot of company over the last month ; we've been sick a bit too..."

As I write that, I'm kind of laughing. 

And thinking about how thankful I am that Clint and I do both work and have Evee in tow (what a blessing!). 

And I'm thinking about how wonderful it has been to have great friends and family come stay (and we've been the company to others as well and I'm thankful for the hospitality). 

I'm thinking about how pathetic this all sounds and that it's silly to defend myself because I know full well there is a lot more out there than what I'm dealing with. 

I'm thinking that this is simply a season. 

I'm thankful that we can earn and save money. 

I'm thinking that at any time if we needed to change everything, we could.

Just needed to get that all out there.  Thanks for letting this be that space.  I'm thankful for grace and want to have grace for others - whether I feel understood or not. 

Nice People

Today I'm thankful for nice people.  People who take time to smile or give a little wave.  People who go the extra step to make sure your experience was a good one.

Here are some I'm thinking about...

Evee and I went to use a coupon at Dunkin' Donuts.  (Yes, we are giving in to some ease with the excuse of pregnancy.)  They forgot to put cream cheese on my bagel.  I went back in line to see if they could just add it for me.  The man who made it and the woman at the cash register both apologized.  Then, as he was bagging it up he added a free bag (worth $.94) to the bag.  I wasn't upset or angry, I was totally fine to wait a couple of minutes to get cream cheese on my bagel...but, it was also really nice to get.  It was nice to know that they cared to add a donut to the bag.

The other funny thing to me was that I've always had a fine experience in this particular Dunkin' Donuts, but I would describe the workers as cordial at best (and I'm pretty sure they hate coupons, which is really the only time we go there).  Today my view of them changed.  It was a really nice surprise, even though it was something so small.

The other examples are from picking up kids from their school (I do this 4 days a week).  Each day we casually (from the car) interact with the crossing guards.  One, in particular, always smiles and waves.  Another of my "favorites" is simply a favorite because he takes charge and is good at his job.  Others barely give you eye contact or engage with those crossing (both pedestrians and vehicles).  Again, I know this is something so small, but it makes a big difference in my day.  I "like" those one particular crossing guards. 

So, thank you to all the people who take a moment to be a little nicer, to smile a bit more, to think the best about the other person...  I am thankful to you...you make my days all the nicer and remind me to be this kind of person as well.

Warm Showers

I am thankful for showers - not rain showers, but the showers I take each morning.

And even though our shower is pink, gets moldy easily (sorry to admit that here, but...), and the temperature can be very unpredictable from one moment to the next...it is hot, has good water pressure, and is relaxing.

I am thankful because I know that a hot, nice shower with plenty of water is truly a luxury and not available in every place.  So, this morning, when I'm feeling a little off and needed a warm shower for a time, I am thankful.