I'm originally from the midwest, and although we have most sports there, there are really only 2 that count- football and wrestling (or wrasslin, as we say). Guys (and sometimes girls) start wrestling as early as they are able to when they are kids, and of course, football is a sport that starts when the shoulder pads are bigger than the kids that wear them.
Throughout my life, however, there was another Midwestern phenomenon that I wasn't so happy about- girls weren't really seen as being "sports-minded". You have to remember that I grew up in the................., and it wasn't like it is today- girls today have a lot more options for athletic outlets. But when I was growing up, knowing my way around a football game, or how many points a wrestler gets for a reversal, was just not seen as a cool thing.
I'm so glad that has changed for the most part for CC- Lord knows that she isn't going to grow up with me and her Dad without knowing all about sports. Nowadays, I don't care if people think it's weird that I know about sports, that I have teams I like and teams I don't and valid reasons for those beliefs. A good friend and I even work the table at open wrestling tournaments throughout the year- she's the bout sheet guru and I'm the clock and scoreboard wizard. Together we make a great team! And have a great time doing it.
Every year, I'm typically the one that wants to have a Superbowl party... to actually WATCH the game. My favorite way to spend Sundays and Monday nights in the fall is in front of a TV, watching a game, regardless of whether the teams playing include mine. Spending an entire Saturday tailgating, then watching a game live, then tailgating some more is, to me, the way a Saturday should be spent! Throw in a couple Friday night High School games, and I'm in heaven!
I hope that sports are something that I can instill a love for in my daughter, too. So many wonderful things can be learned through athletics, and if you have a true love of sport, it's a bit easier to see through all the bull that has taken over in this money-hungry age. GO TEAM!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Belly Laughs
It’s really amazing the things that make everything right in my world, now that I’m a wife and mom. Things that I never even dreamed would be as good as they are.
Belly laughs from my little girl are big ones. Sometimes she just starts laughing at nothing at all, and laughs and laughs until you’d think she would get a cramp in her side. Other times it starts because we make Tigger kiss her nose, or Sophie the Giraffe walk up her chubby little leg. When she starts, my husband and I can’t help but join in, even come from another room just to participate and take in the lovely sight and sound of our little girl enjoying life so much she has to verbalize it. My mother lives quite far away, and doesn’t get to see her granddaughter much. So when I’m on the phone with her, I always hold the phone up to CC and my Mom talks to her. As babies do, of course, she could be yelling and laughing up a storm until that phone gets near her ear, then she goes completely silent. That is, until I tickle her! Hey, what can I say… I’ll resort to underhanded means for that beautiful sound!
There are other things in my life that could be deemed “honorary belly laughs”, things that I love with every fiber of my being. Like when CC reaches out for me to pick her up. When my husband comes home from a day at work, and wants to kiss me before he does anything else. When I cook a dinner that actually invokes a, “wow- this is great” response.
But not much beats the true, real-to-life, soul-filling belly laugh of my little one.
Belly laughs from my little girl are big ones. Sometimes she just starts laughing at nothing at all, and laughs and laughs until you’d think she would get a cramp in her side. Other times it starts because we make Tigger kiss her nose, or Sophie the Giraffe walk up her chubby little leg. When she starts, my husband and I can’t help but join in, even come from another room just to participate and take in the lovely sight and sound of our little girl enjoying life so much she has to verbalize it. My mother lives quite far away, and doesn’t get to see her granddaughter much. So when I’m on the phone with her, I always hold the phone up to CC and my Mom talks to her. As babies do, of course, she could be yelling and laughing up a storm until that phone gets near her ear, then she goes completely silent. That is, until I tickle her! Hey, what can I say… I’ll resort to underhanded means for that beautiful sound!
There are other things in my life that could be deemed “honorary belly laughs”, things that I love with every fiber of my being. Like when CC reaches out for me to pick her up. When my husband comes home from a day at work, and wants to kiss me before he does anything else. When I cook a dinner that actually invokes a, “wow- this is great” response.
But not much beats the true, real-to-life, soul-filling belly laugh of my little one.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Recipe Hijacker- Chicken & Corn Soup
So, this can't reeeeeaaally be considered a hijacking, since I didn't see the recipe anywhere. Instead, I had this wonderful soup a couple weeks ago and just HAD to make it myself. I amended it slightly with things I thought I would like (and hubs would eat), and it turned out great!
Chicken & Corn Soup
Ingredients:
1/2 onion, diced
48 oz. box of Chicken Broth
4 cups of water
2 cans of whole kernel corn
1 roasted chicken, deboned and hand-shredded
1 bag of wide egg noodles
1 bag of baby spinach, rinsed and drained (you can cut up if you like)
salt
pepper
minced garlic to taste
Put about 2 tbls of butter in a large deep pan and melt. Sautee diced onions and garlic (you could use the trio here if you wanted, and if, you know, your family will actually eat them). Once onions (or trio) are translucent, put in chicken, broth, salt, and pepper. Simmer covered on low heat for about 30 minutes.
Add 4 cups of water. Add egg noodles- I like the wide ones, but use whatever width you like. Turn heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until noodles are soft. Once they are, add entire bag of baby spinach. Simmer covered on low for another 5-10 minutes. Dish out and enjoy!
Chicken & Corn Soup
Ingredients:
1/2 onion, diced
48 oz. box of Chicken Broth
4 cups of water
2 cans of whole kernel corn
1 roasted chicken, deboned and hand-shredded
1 bag of wide egg noodles
1 bag of baby spinach, rinsed and drained (you can cut up if you like)
salt
pepper
minced garlic to taste
Put about 2 tbls of butter in a large deep pan and melt. Sautee diced onions and garlic (you could use the trio here if you wanted, and if, you know, your family will actually eat them). Once onions (or trio) are translucent, put in chicken, broth, salt, and pepper. Simmer covered on low heat for about 30 minutes.
Add 4 cups of water. Add egg noodles- I like the wide ones, but use whatever width you like. Turn heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until noodles are soft. Once they are, add entire bag of baby spinach. Simmer covered on low for another 5-10 minutes. Dish out and enjoy!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Taco Night
Last night at our house was Taco Night. How I didn’t adopt this tradition earlier in our married lives, I do not know. But I would like to send a huge shout-out to my FIF’s for telling me that Taco Night was a blessed event and that I needed to enjoy it- because it is, and I do.
My husband and I, unfortunately, have a little different view on what should be in a taco. He likes beef, I prefer chicken, but we are “OK” with eating the opposite. Cheese is a given of course, and we both prefer soft tacos to hard shells. Once in a while black beans are good as well. But that’s about where it stops.
I am very systematic about my tacos- I have a script that I like to follow to ensure that I don’t end up with a bite of just one ingredient. Yes, I am OCD that way. I lay my tortilla down on my plate, and put sour cream in a thick line down the middle. I think put a thin layer of rice, followed by cheese. Then, I put the meat on- why, do you ask? Because I like the cheese to be sandwiched between the hot rice and the hot meat, therefore melting it nicely so it doesn’t fall out. I then put on some sautéed onions and peppers (I have learned to sauté very few since hubs of course won’t eat them), and then I top it all off with a bit of mild salsa.
Now, wrapping is the key to a good taco experience. Sometimes I feel a bit lazy, and just roll it, turn it over so the flap stays wrapped, and use a fork to dig in. However, if I’m in a “eat with my hands” type of mood, there is a correct procedure to follow. First, you have to fold one end up a bit, to make a little pouch- stuffings falling out of the bottom of your roll definitely make for a BAD taco experience. After you make the pouch, fold one side over and tuck the edge under the ingredients, then bring the other side over to complete it. Then enjoy!
When I first introduced the idea of Taco Night to my husband, he was wary. Then when I made it one night, he was completely enamored. So enamored, in fact, that I suggested we could do Taco Night once a week. “No no,” he said, “That would probably be too much.” It wasn’t half way through the next week until he was asking what night we were doing tacos again. And since, Taco Night has been a weekly tradition.
This, my friends, just solidifies the fact that I know best. He just needs to accept it.
My husband and I, unfortunately, have a little different view on what should be in a taco. He likes beef, I prefer chicken, but we are “OK” with eating the opposite. Cheese is a given of course, and we both prefer soft tacos to hard shells. Once in a while black beans are good as well. But that’s about where it stops.
I am very systematic about my tacos- I have a script that I like to follow to ensure that I don’t end up with a bite of just one ingredient. Yes, I am OCD that way. I lay my tortilla down on my plate, and put sour cream in a thick line down the middle. I think put a thin layer of rice, followed by cheese. Then, I put the meat on- why, do you ask? Because I like the cheese to be sandwiched between the hot rice and the hot meat, therefore melting it nicely so it doesn’t fall out. I then put on some sautéed onions and peppers (I have learned to sauté very few since hubs of course won’t eat them), and then I top it all off with a bit of mild salsa.
Now, wrapping is the key to a good taco experience. Sometimes I feel a bit lazy, and just roll it, turn it over so the flap stays wrapped, and use a fork to dig in. However, if I’m in a “eat with my hands” type of mood, there is a correct procedure to follow. First, you have to fold one end up a bit, to make a little pouch- stuffings falling out of the bottom of your roll definitely make for a BAD taco experience. After you make the pouch, fold one side over and tuck the edge under the ingredients, then bring the other side over to complete it. Then enjoy!
When I first introduced the idea of Taco Night to my husband, he was wary. Then when I made it one night, he was completely enamored. So enamored, in fact, that I suggested we could do Taco Night once a week. “No no,” he said, “That would probably be too much.” It wasn’t half way through the next week until he was asking what night we were doing tacos again. And since, Taco Night has been a weekly tradition.
This, my friends, just solidifies the fact that I know best. He just needs to accept it.
Friday, February 19, 2010
FIF's
I like to say I’m a “wanna-be-computer-geek”- I truly am. I love anything technology related, and I love learning new things- I even taught myself Access over a summer for a work project. I will say, however, that although the idea of being able to program and use HTML and Java and whatnot appeals to me, I don’t think I could stand the isolation that type of work would bring.
In the last few years, my small techie mind has turned to social networking and Web 2.0 programs. In fact, those are things that are involved in my career on a daily basis. But the one private phenomenon that I never knew existed was a group of women that have become such a large part of my life, even though I’ve only met one of them in person. They are my FIF’s- my Freaky Internet Friends.
We all met on a wedding planning website, as soon-to-be brides getting married in August 2008. We all filtered into our date group throughout the year prior to August 2008, searching for advice on honeymoons or colors or “unique” ideas (of which there aren’t any, of course). The group of us soon realized, however, that we had one thing in common- most of us felt that we were planning a marriage, not just a wedding, and that some of the “SQEEEE!” details were just not that important. Unicorns and sparkly ribbon wands were just not our style. But we kept coming back because of our bond that somehow formed over weblines, and we developed into a group of friendships that has gotten even stronger since.
We have seen each other through learning to deal with new in-laws (or not), weddings, honeymoons, changing wedding dates, getting pregnant, miscarriages, having babies, having marriage troubles, lay-offs, moving, and any other number of things that seem to happen while you’re trying to live your life. Soon after our weddings we moved our collective to a private forum space and continue to speak with each other day after day. We call each other at times, text each other a lot, and always always check in with each other regularly. I truly have never had such a wonderful, caring group of friends that I look forward to communicating with each day. As women, we seek out touchstones in our lives, relationships that enlighten us and heal us and allow us to do the same. My FIF’s are some of the smartest, funniest, most beautiful women in the world, and I am proud to be let into each of their lives.
Thank you- your friendship makes me smile.
In the last few years, my small techie mind has turned to social networking and Web 2.0 programs. In fact, those are things that are involved in my career on a daily basis. But the one private phenomenon that I never knew existed was a group of women that have become such a large part of my life, even though I’ve only met one of them in person. They are my FIF’s- my Freaky Internet Friends.
We all met on a wedding planning website, as soon-to-be brides getting married in August 2008. We all filtered into our date group throughout the year prior to August 2008, searching for advice on honeymoons or colors or “unique” ideas (of which there aren’t any, of course). The group of us soon realized, however, that we had one thing in common- most of us felt that we were planning a marriage, not just a wedding, and that some of the “SQEEEE!” details were just not that important. Unicorns and sparkly ribbon wands were just not our style. But we kept coming back because of our bond that somehow formed over weblines, and we developed into a group of friendships that has gotten even stronger since.
We have seen each other through learning to deal with new in-laws (or not), weddings, honeymoons, changing wedding dates, getting pregnant, miscarriages, having babies, having marriage troubles, lay-offs, moving, and any other number of things that seem to happen while you’re trying to live your life. Soon after our weddings we moved our collective to a private forum space and continue to speak with each other day after day. We call each other at times, text each other a lot, and always always check in with each other regularly. I truly have never had such a wonderful, caring group of friends that I look forward to communicating with each day. As women, we seek out touchstones in our lives, relationships that enlighten us and heal us and allow us to do the same. My FIF’s are some of the smartest, funniest, most beautiful women in the world, and I am proud to be let into each of their lives.
Thank you- your friendship makes me smile.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Recipe Hijacker
:stands up: Ahem (obligatory throat clear)
Hi, I’m the Unintentional Career Woman, and I’m :gulp: a recipe hijacker. WHEW! Feels good to let that out.
I am a recipe hijacker, though, but it’s a relatively new thing for me. Not that I’ve never cooked- I have. I started cooking early on, actually. But recently I’ve found a new spunk for it- thanks to the Food Network and The Pioneer Woman.
So why am I a recipe hijacker? I love to get new recipes and follow them, but I rarely follow them to the letter. For many reasons I choose to change ingredients or amounts- maybe I don’t have the exact ingredients called for so I find something I think will work. Or maybe the recipe calls for something healthy and vegetable-y that my husband is SURE to not eat, so I either take that out or again substitute something else in its place.
So once in a while I will share a recipe with you that I hijack and make a la' me, and let you know how it turned out. I’ll tell you what I used in my recipe, and what I should have used if I didn’t like my choice and want to save you the horrid embarrassment of your family hiding it in the napkin or feeding it to the dog. We’ll start out with The Pioneer Woman’s meatloaf, which I made last night, and probably would have been a lot better with her exact recipe. You can find the original recipe here.
My version:
1 ½ lbs. of ground turkey (I’m a beef lover, but this is what I had in the fridge)
1 cup of milk (I should have only used about ½ cup)
4 slices of potato bread (don’t think I’d use the potato bread again, and this was too much bread for the amount of turkey I used)
Thick sliced bacon (yum- don’t forget this ingredient)
Black pepper
Seasoned Salt (like Lowry’s- I love this stuff)
Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
4 eggs (again, too much for the amount of meat- maybe needed 2 or 3)
Sauce:
About 1 cup of ketchup
2 tsps. Herlocher’s Dipping Mustard
About a tsp. of brown sugar
Put the bread in a bowl and pour the milk over it- let it soak for a few minutes.
Then combine the bread (try to squeeze out some of the milk- mine got a bit runny), meat, seasonings, cheese, and eggs and mix together. Form the mixture into a loaf shape on a broiler pan (use a pan with a rack- the fat and grease will run off of it and make it much better). Lay strips of bacon across the top of the loaf, tucking the ends under the loaf on each side.
Combine the ingredients for the sauce and mix until it’s smooth. Spread about 1/3 of the sauce mixture onto the top of the meatloaf and put the rest in the fridge to use later. Bake at 350° for about 45 minutes. Then spread another 1/3 of the sauce mixture onto the top, and bake for another 15 minutes. Let the meat sit for a few minutes, then cut and enjoy with some mashed potatoes and veggies! Serve the last 1/3 of the sauce mixture on the side for dipping.
My observations:
The flavor of the dish was really good- better than I expected it to be. The meatloaf mixture itself was a bit thinned out, which is why I stated the above suggestions to my amounts of ingredients. The sauce was AWESOME- I cannot tell you how much I loved the sauce. Even my husband raved about it, and the only condiment he eats is bar-b-q sauce.
Also- the bacon didn’t crisp up on the top, which I thought of a couple of reasons to explain. First- I might put the sauce on top of the meat, and THEN layer on the bacon so that it would be exposed. I also might use the broiler for a bit after it was cooked to brown and crisp up the top before taking it out of the oven.
Overall, it was a success, but I would definitely make some changes to it next time. Oh- and unless you want to be eating leftovers for 3 days afterward- make it when at least 4 people will be eating dinner.
Hi, I’m the Unintentional Career Woman, and I’m :gulp: a recipe hijacker. WHEW! Feels good to let that out.
I am a recipe hijacker, though, but it’s a relatively new thing for me. Not that I’ve never cooked- I have. I started cooking early on, actually. But recently I’ve found a new spunk for it- thanks to the Food Network and The Pioneer Woman.
So why am I a recipe hijacker? I love to get new recipes and follow them, but I rarely follow them to the letter. For many reasons I choose to change ingredients or amounts- maybe I don’t have the exact ingredients called for so I find something I think will work. Or maybe the recipe calls for something healthy and vegetable-y that my husband is SURE to not eat, so I either take that out or again substitute something else in its place.
So once in a while I will share a recipe with you that I hijack and make a la' me, and let you know how it turned out. I’ll tell you what I used in my recipe, and what I should have used if I didn’t like my choice and want to save you the horrid embarrassment of your family hiding it in the napkin or feeding it to the dog. We’ll start out with The Pioneer Woman’s meatloaf, which I made last night, and probably would have been a lot better with her exact recipe. You can find the original recipe here.
My version:
1 ½ lbs. of ground turkey (I’m a beef lover, but this is what I had in the fridge)
1 cup of milk (I should have only used about ½ cup)
4 slices of potato bread (don’t think I’d use the potato bread again, and this was too much bread for the amount of turkey I used)
Thick sliced bacon (yum- don’t forget this ingredient)
Black pepper
Seasoned Salt (like Lowry’s- I love this stuff)
Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
4 eggs (again, too much for the amount of meat- maybe needed 2 or 3)
Sauce:
About 1 cup of ketchup
2 tsps. Herlocher’s Dipping Mustard
About a tsp. of brown sugar
Put the bread in a bowl and pour the milk over it- let it soak for a few minutes.
Then combine the bread (try to squeeze out some of the milk- mine got a bit runny), meat, seasonings, cheese, and eggs and mix together. Form the mixture into a loaf shape on a broiler pan (use a pan with a rack- the fat and grease will run off of it and make it much better). Lay strips of bacon across the top of the loaf, tucking the ends under the loaf on each side.
Combine the ingredients for the sauce and mix until it’s smooth. Spread about 1/3 of the sauce mixture onto the top of the meatloaf and put the rest in the fridge to use later. Bake at 350° for about 45 minutes. Then spread another 1/3 of the sauce mixture onto the top, and bake for another 15 minutes. Let the meat sit for a few minutes, then cut and enjoy with some mashed potatoes and veggies! Serve the last 1/3 of the sauce mixture on the side for dipping.
My observations:
The flavor of the dish was really good- better than I expected it to be. The meatloaf mixture itself was a bit thinned out, which is why I stated the above suggestions to my amounts of ingredients. The sauce was AWESOME- I cannot tell you how much I loved the sauce. Even my husband raved about it, and the only condiment he eats is bar-b-q sauce.
Also- the bacon didn’t crisp up on the top, which I thought of a couple of reasons to explain. First- I might put the sauce on top of the meat, and THEN layer on the bacon so that it would be exposed. I also might use the broiler for a bit after it was cooked to brown and crisp up the top before taking it out of the oven.
Overall, it was a success, but I would definitely make some changes to it next time. Oh- and unless you want to be eating leftovers for 3 days afterward- make it when at least 4 people will be eating dinner.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Happy Birthday Dad
Happy Birthday Dad.
Today was your birthday. Unfortunately, one year ago, it was also the day that we lost you, although the death certificate will state a month later. We miss you so much- our lives have a hole in them that can’t be filled. A void that will always be there. A heartache that will never truly heal, although they say it lessens over time.
I know you’re watching over us every day, and I know that Cora has the best guardian angel ever. I know you’ve talked with her- in fact, I believe that you were the first one to get to see her or talk to her, even before she was born. You were with us in the delivery room, making sure that the complications that arose didn’t put her in danger. She seems to have an affinity for men with beards… we whole-heartedly think that is because she’s seen you with one, and knows that they aren’t scary. Her grandpa has one after all!
You taught me so much throughout my life Dad, and I am grateful for every single lesson. I hope that through the years I was able to show you how much I appreciated you and loved you. I hope that was not something that you left this life wondering. Here are just a few things that I am grateful for from you:
My blue eyes and my curly hair.
My chipmunk cheeks.
You taught me how to ride a motorcycle, although at one point I thought I was too girly to do it.
You taught me how to use my hands to build things. How to use a hammer, a drill, a saw, and “righty tighty, lefty loosy”.
You taught me how to not sweat the small things. Although I didn’t know how to earlier in life, I am proud to say that I now practice this as a lesson learned.
You taught me how important family is, and to not let arguments and disagreements make me forget this.
You taught me how to pack a U-haul, and how to move as efficiently as possible, which came in handy when you helped me move more times than I care to count.
You taught me how to mow the lawn, use an edger, shovel the snow, and paint anything.
But most of all, Dad, you taught me how to feel love from a family, and how to hug and say, “I love you”, without being embarrassed. You were a light in our lives that we won’t be able to replace. But even now we can still feel the warmth from it, from above.
I love you.
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