Recipe Rundown

Oct 12, 2012 | 2 comments

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be working on new recipe ideas. Some will be posted here on the Blog. Some may be added to the Second Edition of The Unemployment Cookbook.

In the meantime, feel free to check out my RECIPES page under the FOOD & FUN tab. I’ll also be streamlining each of them to the ZipList recipe format.

Feel free to link up your own holiday recipes in the comments below!

As always, HAPPY EATING.

And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!

Sweeten my tea and share:

Early Thanksgiving

Oct 11, 2012 | 2 comments

I’m not gonna sugarcoat this: Life is hard. I mean, it’s hard. And it’s easy to slip into the “I have it harder than you do” mentality. Trust me. Been there, done that.

It’s not much of a surprise that I’ve been pretty bitter about Life’s Lemons. Long-term unemployment. Chronic injuries. Financial fiascoes. Throw in the struggles of family and friends, and my heart is heavy with the weight of the world.

When we were young, my older brother was a wise-cracking, joke-telling genius. One of his favorites (that for some reason I played along with every time, even though I knew the ending) was when he’d say, “I can teach you a foreign language. Repeat after me.”

“Owah. Ta-jer. Kay-yam.”

Now. You say it. Out loud. Fast. Faster.

Get it now?

Here. Let me change the spelling a little bit for you:

“O-wha-tajer-kiam.”

One more time. A little more clearly.

“OH, WHAT A JERK I AM.”

Yup. That’s it. And that’s me.

I’m the Queen of the Party. The Pity Party, that is. I can feel sorry for myself quicker than you can nod your head. And it comes oh-so-naturally, I don’t even know I’m doing it.

Maybe it’s because I’ve always been more sensitive than others. Maybe it’s because I feel things deeper and harder and stronger and longer than others. Maybe I overthink or underthink or just don’t think at all.

Maybe it’s just me.

I haven’t been sleeping well for a few nights. The worries float around keeping my eyes busy with visions of things yet to come. Noise isn’t a distraction, and silence isn’t soothing. I just can’t seem to sleep very well.

So by the time I was functioning this morning, I had to remind myself that I wasn’t sick, I wasn’t angry, there wasn’t anything wrong. I was just tired. Just tired. Nothing else. And when I took the other non-possibilities out of the equation, the day seemed easier to manage.

I could drive, go to the grocery store, balance the checkbook, make dinner, clean house… all those things I didn’t want to do but should do. I did them. Because being tired isn’t an excuse to not take care of business. I wouldn’t call in sick to work just because I was tired. And right now, home is my work. And I’m the boss. I did not give myself a sick day.

And for that, I’m thankful. I’m really thankful. And I want it to show.

I still have my house. I still have my car. Dot is a full-time college student. I have family and friends. We have our health. And we have food in the house.

With all of these blessings, it struck me that I was still asking God for more than I was thanking Him for.

How’s that for gratitude?

Do I really trust Him to provide for me if I’m whining about not having milk for one day? We were able to put a full tank of gas in the car yesterday. I’m thankful we could afford it. When I ask God to give us our Daily Bread, is it honoring to Him for me to wish for more than what’s on the table? Instead of complaining that cleaning out the fridge is not our favorite meal, I’ve become extremely thankful that we have food in the fridge to begin with.

God is doing a most wonderful job of taking care of us. In ways I’m not even aware of; in ways I’ll probably never know.

I woke up this morning. In my own home with my family around me.

I’d say I’m pretty blessed.

And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!

You may also enjoy reading:
“Give Us This Day…”
The Adventures of Will Power and the Basket of Blessings
My Thanksgiving List

Sweeten my tea and share:

“What’s the Word?” Wednesday: October 10, 2012

Oct 10, 2012 | 4 comments

What’s been your favorite part of this last week? I’ve had so many! It’s October. The Yankees and Tigers are in the playoffs. The weather finally cooled down enough to wear long pants and hard shoes, which means the cats are more snuggly.

Snuggly Cats

Dot and I are really in sync with our new routines now. I love that she can drive herself to college, but when I need to run errands I just drop her off and pick her up. It beats driving back and forth and back and forth… especially with gas prices soaring to over $4.79/gallon three days ago. Today I went grocery shopping at Target when a friend sent me on a “Visual Scavenger Hunt”. He texted me what I needed to find, I’d text him back a photo, and then he’d offer up the next item. There was no rhyme or reason to it, but it was certainly fun… and in my heels, of course, wandering back and forth many times, I also certainly got my exercise for the day!

TARGET Visual Scavenger Hunt and Other Great Finds

I’m sticking with my Clean Out the Fridge meal plan… for the most part. It’s led to one or two interesting combinations that won’t be repeated. And several delicious ones that will!

Rice, Cream of Chicken Soup and Diced Green Chilies. Interesting.

My Non-Dot turned 18. I can’t believe these Little People I’ve known for so long are grown-ups. Not just in age, but in attitude… for the most part. I mean, they were just seventeen quite recently.

Best Friends

It looks like I’ll have five giveaways for the first part of November. And I’m working on a few new Holiday recipes, too!

I’m building a Blogger Wish List.Oh, Santa…! The Blogs I love most and aspire to be like are so professional looking. But it takes money to make money. So right now, This Elf is working on getting a Light Box, photo-editing software, and a new camera bag. Sounds like I’m a photographer instead of a Blogger, right? Well then… a new backpack for all my writing supplies, a gift card to any bookstore in town, and journals. Lots of journals. And pens. Otherwise, what’s the point?

Well, those are this week’s highlights. We still indulge in the Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Creme Frappuccino once a week.

Autumn Bliss

Here’s something noteworthy: The Starbuck’s Pumpkin Spice comes both as a hot latte and a cold Frappuccino. Their Pumpkin Creme Frappuccino is the mocha-free drink. I didn’t know that until after I unwittingly ordered Dot the one with mocha. Since she’s not a coffee drinker, guess who got an extra one? I’m a tad energetic right now… Don’t worry. She got the Pumpkin Creme Frapp. I promise.

And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!

“What’s the Word?” Wednesdays is a link-up that allows other bloggers and readers to share whatever they want to talk about. Think of it as a virtual coffee date with some great friends. What’s going on in your world? Tell us all about it!

A few things to remember:

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Each week has a new link-up. Please make sure you grab the correct Badge Code.
Be sure to check out what others are posting, and even leave a few comments.
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So, c’mon. Join the conversation. After all, a great coffee date is one where everyone gets to chat, dontcha think?