So my co-worker has asked me several times to give her a copy of my meal plan and grocery list so I thought others might be interested. I only cook healthy at home. I get my fill of the unhealthy splurges when we eat out which is not too often. Also, I try not to assign days to the meals because a.) who knows what I'm going to be in the mood for each day and b.) who knows what my husband will gobble up every last bite of (most our meals) and what we will have leftovers of.
This list is soup heavy because it's getting to be that time of the year so I'm going to make a lot of soups and have them for lunch and/or dinner. This list might also be skewed by the fact my husband's birthday is next week so I'm planning a special mean of turkey breast in the crock pot (his favorite meal).
Meals:
Queso Chicken Chili
Butternut Squash Soup
Pad Thai Soup
Crockpot Turkey with Cauliflower Mash and Green Onion Dropped Biscuits
Dragon Noodles
Marinated Chicken Sweet Potato Cakes
Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken and Sweet Potato Cakes
Grocery List
Broccoli
Peppers (x4)
Apples
Butternut Squash
Jalapeno
Green Onions
Carrots
Parsley
Cilantro
Cauliflower
Sweet Potato
Parmesan
Turkey Breast - 4lb
Chicken Breasts
Fish Sauce
Rice Noodles
Salsa - 16 oz
Chicken Broth (x2)
Black Beans
Corn
Goetta
Eggs
Cream Cheese
Laughing Cow
Whole Wheat Linguini
Whole Wheat Flour
Baking Powder (?)
Garlic Bread
Edamame
Lean Cuisines
Monday, November 3, 2014
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Next step...
I have decided, very recently, that there is a downfall to living downtown: we have absolutely no space. As I said before we just got married and our family and friends were beyond generous with gifts. I alone had three wedding showers, a bachelorette party, and then wedding gifts as well. Yes, you're probably thinking over the top and it was not something I requested, but everyone was just beyond amazing and generous with their gifts and time.
I now have kitchen utensils, appliances, and pots and pans that a gourmet chef would be jealous of, but I have a tiny galley kitchen. Doug and I went through all our gifts and sadly made piles of stuff that we would be using in the next few months as our lease runs out, a pile of items that either arrived broken or were doubles so they need to be returned, and a very large pile that we want, but have absolutely no room. Doug's family lives in town so we are moving the majority of our wonderful gifts up to his parent's house to store for the time being. It makes me very sad and a little anxious to do so.
We have three months left on our lease and we are now trying to make some decisions of do we try to extend our lease six months even though our rent is a killer on our salaries and they will more than likely bump it up a lot since we are not doing a full lease. Do we start the process to purchase a home and lay down some roots or do we move out to a cheaper area and save some more money before we decide to buy. My head is spinning with pros and cons of each and I cannot decide which. Now that we're married, I feel as if we need to put down roots and create a home. I have the newlywed nesting buzz, but I more than likely need to pump the breaks on this and be reasonable, my least favorite thing to be.
I'm stalking both Craigs List and realtor websites trying to find a great place for us to move. I am running into the issue that if we want to rent, we actually need to wait awhile. For some reason, most places will not rent to you 90 days out. I'm a bit of a stress head by nature so it's driving me crazy not to be able to make a decision and start going with that plan. Next step is to gather our paperwork and see how much we can get pre-approved for, but at the same time trying to enjoy our newlywed status.
I now have kitchen utensils, appliances, and pots and pans that a gourmet chef would be jealous of, but I have a tiny galley kitchen. Doug and I went through all our gifts and sadly made piles of stuff that we would be using in the next few months as our lease runs out, a pile of items that either arrived broken or were doubles so they need to be returned, and a very large pile that we want, but have absolutely no room. Doug's family lives in town so we are moving the majority of our wonderful gifts up to his parent's house to store for the time being. It makes me very sad and a little anxious to do so.
We have three months left on our lease and we are now trying to make some decisions of do we try to extend our lease six months even though our rent is a killer on our salaries and they will more than likely bump it up a lot since we are not doing a full lease. Do we start the process to purchase a home and lay down some roots or do we move out to a cheaper area and save some more money before we decide to buy. My head is spinning with pros and cons of each and I cannot decide which. Now that we're married, I feel as if we need to put down roots and create a home. I have the newlywed nesting buzz, but I more than likely need to pump the breaks on this and be reasonable, my least favorite thing to be.
I'm stalking both Craigs List and realtor websites trying to find a great place for us to move. I am running into the issue that if we want to rent, we actually need to wait awhile. For some reason, most places will not rent to you 90 days out. I'm a bit of a stress head by nature so it's driving me crazy not to be able to make a decision and start going with that plan. Next step is to gather our paperwork and see how much we can get pre-approved for, but at the same time trying to enjoy our newlywed status.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Okay, I'm resuming this blog after 3 1/2 years. Looking back since I last wrote, it's crazy how much has changed. Around the time I was writing I decided to get healthy and to go on eHarmony. I decided it was time to make some changes in my life and I started there.
I went on to eHarmony not entirely knowing what I was getting into and I did not find a relationship, but I did find my confidence again. I learned that I am pretty, that people do find me interesting, and just because the majority of my friends were in long term committed relationships, did not mean that I would be a lone forever.
I went out with several people over the three months that I was on the site and even dated someone for around a month. It was incredibly evident that we were looking for different things when I was badgered about when I wanted to have kids and when I told him I was undecided on children, he explained to me that he very badly wanted kids and it was a deal breaker. We'd only been dating for around a month so I did the very adult thing and told him that it was clear we were in different places in our lives and broke up with him via a text message. Not one of my better decisions, but it was the easy way out.
I'm an alumnae of the University of Cincinnati and a very active alumnae. I'm a football season ticket holder, attend basketball games, and volunteer quite a bit of time to my sorority. I even donate the random $18.19 + $10 when they call. I love UC.
After the break up via text message, I let my eHarmony account expire and decided to enjoy the busy fall and football season. UC was playing Pitt in Pittsburgh and I decided to go see one of my best friends who was living in Pittsburgh at the time and then we could go to the game. Some of her other friends had a similar idea and she talked me into riding with them. There was this guy, Doug, whom I had met before on some other UC football road trips in New Orleans and WVU, but never in Cincinnati. I rode up to Pittsburgh with him and three other guys and had the most amazing weekend. Doug and I had so much fun on the trip that we continued to stay in contact and now almost three years later we're married.
It's crazy for me to think back on the past three years and it seems so long ago, but also just like it was yesterday. Doug and I clicked right away and after only dating for 8 months we moved into an apartment downtown Cincinnati. We've lived there for over two years and absolutely love everything about urban living. I work downtown and Doug works close by so moving our cars is only a weekly event.
Downtown Cincinnati has been transformed the past few years and we love going to the different events and hitting up all the new hipster delicious restaurants. I've clearly watched Top Chef too much because I love trying new items and judging them just like Gail (she seriously has the best job ever). I used to be very neutral about Cincinnati, but I've fallen in love with this city and see why people stay for life.
We got married on September 13, 2014 and it was a magical day. The weather was perfect and the day seriously went by in a blur, but I don't know if any couple is more blessed and lucky to have such great family and friends. We had our rehearsal dinner at the UC football game the Friday before thanks to Doug's sister contacting the university. Our wedding was a full mass and just wonderful. We then danced the night away at our reception and quickly got up the next morning with only about 4 hours of sleep and flew off to Jamaica to an all-inclusive resort. Magical may be an understatement of how amazing that weekend was and this short description doesn't do it justice. The feeling of love in the air was not only between Doug and I, but everyone around which is exactly how I wanted to start my marriage.
Now back to my weight loss. I just all of a sudden decided to start calorie counting to see what I really was eating. I never was obese or anything, but decided to get healthy after seeing what I really was taking in which was quite a bit more than I should have. I weighed in at around 160 lbs. on a 5'2" frame, not crazy terrible, but a little higher for my height than I should have been. I did it the healthy way or what I consider the healthy way: eating around 1200 calories Monday-Friday and then allowed myself the weekend to eat and drink whatever I liked. I didn't make anything forbidden and on the weekends, at first I went to town with it whatever I wanted, but after a while my body wanted me to eat healthy all the time and I was making myself sick eating grease. I had to learn that if I wanted pizza then I had to do it in moderation and fill up a bit on salad first because I would be paying for it later. It is amazing that after only eating bad for a day or two I would crave a salad. Funny how your body gets used to things. It took about two years of this, but I'm down to 115 lbs. and do not plan on losing anymore and I'm still okay with the lifestyle.
Through the two years of weight loss, it was clear that weight loss is much easier if you eat in. I have so much more control over what goes in to my body rather than guessing how many calories is in something at a local restaurant. I now love to cook and Doug has definitely benefited from this. I love that I can still eat spaghetti and meatballs, but I eat 2 ounces whole wheat spaghetti with tomato sauce, homemade turkey meatballs, and I add lots of bell peppers, broccoli, and peas. The more vegetables the better. Everything in moderation is how I have maintained.
If I'm the only one who ever looks at this blog, that's completely fine. I'm just excited to share about my new life and of course share about food.
I went on to eHarmony not entirely knowing what I was getting into and I did not find a relationship, but I did find my confidence again. I learned that I am pretty, that people do find me interesting, and just because the majority of my friends were in long term committed relationships, did not mean that I would be a lone forever.
I went out with several people over the three months that I was on the site and even dated someone for around a month. It was incredibly evident that we were looking for different things when I was badgered about when I wanted to have kids and when I told him I was undecided on children, he explained to me that he very badly wanted kids and it was a deal breaker. We'd only been dating for around a month so I did the very adult thing and told him that it was clear we were in different places in our lives and broke up with him via a text message. Not one of my better decisions, but it was the easy way out.
I'm an alumnae of the University of Cincinnati and a very active alumnae. I'm a football season ticket holder, attend basketball games, and volunteer quite a bit of time to my sorority. I even donate the random $18.19 + $10 when they call. I love UC.
After the break up via text message, I let my eHarmony account expire and decided to enjoy the busy fall and football season. UC was playing Pitt in Pittsburgh and I decided to go see one of my best friends who was living in Pittsburgh at the time and then we could go to the game. Some of her other friends had a similar idea and she talked me into riding with them. There was this guy, Doug, whom I had met before on some other UC football road trips in New Orleans and WVU, but never in Cincinnati. I rode up to Pittsburgh with him and three other guys and had the most amazing weekend. Doug and I had so much fun on the trip that we continued to stay in contact and now almost three years later we're married.
It's crazy for me to think back on the past three years and it seems so long ago, but also just like it was yesterday. Doug and I clicked right away and after only dating for 8 months we moved into an apartment downtown Cincinnati. We've lived there for over two years and absolutely love everything about urban living. I work downtown and Doug works close by so moving our cars is only a weekly event.
Downtown Cincinnati has been transformed the past few years and we love going to the different events and hitting up all the new hipster delicious restaurants. I've clearly watched Top Chef too much because I love trying new items and judging them just like Gail (she seriously has the best job ever). I used to be very neutral about Cincinnati, but I've fallen in love with this city and see why people stay for life.
We got married on September 13, 2014 and it was a magical day. The weather was perfect and the day seriously went by in a blur, but I don't know if any couple is more blessed and lucky to have such great family and friends. We had our rehearsal dinner at the UC football game the Friday before thanks to Doug's sister contacting the university. Our wedding was a full mass and just wonderful. We then danced the night away at our reception and quickly got up the next morning with only about 4 hours of sleep and flew off to Jamaica to an all-inclusive resort. Magical may be an understatement of how amazing that weekend was and this short description doesn't do it justice. The feeling of love in the air was not only between Doug and I, but everyone around which is exactly how I wanted to start my marriage.
Now back to my weight loss. I just all of a sudden decided to start calorie counting to see what I really was eating. I never was obese or anything, but decided to get healthy after seeing what I really was taking in which was quite a bit more than I should have. I weighed in at around 160 lbs. on a 5'2" frame, not crazy terrible, but a little higher for my height than I should have been. I did it the healthy way or what I consider the healthy way: eating around 1200 calories Monday-Friday and then allowed myself the weekend to eat and drink whatever I liked. I didn't make anything forbidden and on the weekends, at first I went to town with it whatever I wanted, but after a while my body wanted me to eat healthy all the time and I was making myself sick eating grease. I had to learn that if I wanted pizza then I had to do it in moderation and fill up a bit on salad first because I would be paying for it later. It is amazing that after only eating bad for a day or two I would crave a salad. Funny how your body gets used to things. It took about two years of this, but I'm down to 115 lbs. and do not plan on losing anymore and I'm still okay with the lifestyle.
Through the two years of weight loss, it was clear that weight loss is much easier if you eat in. I have so much more control over what goes in to my body rather than guessing how many calories is in something at a local restaurant. I now love to cook and Doug has definitely benefited from this. I love that I can still eat spaghetti and meatballs, but I eat 2 ounces whole wheat spaghetti with tomato sauce, homemade turkey meatballs, and I add lots of bell peppers, broccoli, and peas. The more vegetables the better. Everything in moderation is how I have maintained.
If I'm the only one who ever looks at this blog, that's completely fine. I'm just excited to share about my new life and of course share about food.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The Search Continues
I suppose it's no large surprise that no one is hiring, but I'm not giving up. Monster is about to take out a restraining order on me for stalking the website so much. I'm trudging on and not giving up on my going nowhere career search.
I'm starting to become irritable at work. Our intern asks at least a million questions a day and I'm sure I was like that when I first started, but he is annoying. He's also going into the theater and he just seems so damn happy all the time. He is less than two years younger than me and I am annoyed by his immaturity and bright eyes looking out at the world. It sickens me. It could be jealousy, but I'm pretty sure that I was never that happy go lucky in my entire life. Again, could be jealousy, but I think he's just obnoxious.
I've always been the glass is half empty frame of life, but lately I would just call the glass empty. I have no idea what kind of career I should be searching for. I've been applying for similar jobs which seems stupid. I don't want to jump into the same job in a different location. I am good at my job, but that doesn't mean I love it. Do you just continue doing something you're good for the simple fact that you're good at it? Do you decide that it's best to go into a business that involves your hobbies and/or interests? It's confusing and I know it's silly, but I feel like 25 is too old to making a career change. It scares me to start all over. I envy those people who at 5 knew what they wanted to do and stuck with it forever and were happy doing it.
The one thing I am sure of is that moving to New York City is something that I would love to do. The energy and culture of the city are extraordinary. I don't think it's the place that I could live forever, but it is something I would like to take the leap and try. I've been applying for jobs there and I haven't received a single response. My resumé is pretty good so I find it interesting that I haven't received a response. Maybe it's just because I'm out of state or maybe it's that my resumé isn't that great. I have enough money saved up to move without a job secured, but it terrifies me to do that. I'm obviously too much of a planner.
I'm starting to become irritable at work. Our intern asks at least a million questions a day and I'm sure I was like that when I first started, but he is annoying. He's also going into the theater and he just seems so damn happy all the time. He is less than two years younger than me and I am annoyed by his immaturity and bright eyes looking out at the world. It sickens me. It could be jealousy, but I'm pretty sure that I was never that happy go lucky in my entire life. Again, could be jealousy, but I think he's just obnoxious.
I've always been the glass is half empty frame of life, but lately I would just call the glass empty. I have no idea what kind of career I should be searching for. I've been applying for similar jobs which seems stupid. I don't want to jump into the same job in a different location. I am good at my job, but that doesn't mean I love it. Do you just continue doing something you're good for the simple fact that you're good at it? Do you decide that it's best to go into a business that involves your hobbies and/or interests? It's confusing and I know it's silly, but I feel like 25 is too old to making a career change. It scares me to start all over. I envy those people who at 5 knew what they wanted to do and stuck with it forever and were happy doing it.
The one thing I am sure of is that moving to New York City is something that I would love to do. The energy and culture of the city are extraordinary. I don't think it's the place that I could live forever, but it is something I would like to take the leap and try. I've been applying for jobs there and I haven't received a single response. My resumé is pretty good so I find it interesting that I haven't received a response. Maybe it's just because I'm out of state or maybe it's that my resumé isn't that great. I have enough money saved up to move without a job secured, but it terrifies me to do that. I'm obviously too much of a planner.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Passion Over Power
After months of talking about getting my resume together to apply for a new job, today I actually did it. I think I've gotten used to having a constant pay check and I'm one of the people with the most experience in my department. I need to remember that just because I'm comfortable doesn't mean that I'm happy. Having a routine doesn't mean I have a successful life.
I'm scared to start over at 24 which is completely ridiculous. I'm just living life and I need to figure out how I want to live it. I'm not sure I want a family so in order to be happy with life I need to have a career that I love. I want to travel and unless I win the lottery having a great career is a must. I think I'm lazy about getting this career. I did four years of college and now three years in a career that is going absolutely no where. I need to find something that I am passionate about not just something that I happen to do well.
Let the applying begin for a new career and hopefully life.
I'm scared to start over at 24 which is completely ridiculous. I'm just living life and I need to figure out how I want to live it. I'm not sure I want a family so in order to be happy with life I need to have a career that I love. I want to travel and unless I win the lottery having a great career is a must. I think I'm lazy about getting this career. I did four years of college and now three years in a career that is going absolutely no where. I need to find something that I am passionate about not just something that I happen to do well.
Let the applying begin for a new career and hopefully life.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
25th Birthday Looming
With my 25th birthday just around the corner I am of course thinking about where I am in my life. Living in a city I like, but don't love with a career going absolutely no where. A career that I thought was ideal at the age of 18 and with no experience, but now with three years of experience I can't think of something I hate more. Looking back choosing a career at 18 might not have been the best idea. My company is performing layoffs each Friday which makes me now hate my favorite day of the week. We used to be on at least five hours of overtime a week, but now we are not even allowed to clock in a second. The conclusion to this is that my paychecks went from fluffy to flat. My family keeps pushing me into going to grad school, but I can't think of a worse idea. I know I hate my job, but I have absolutely no idea what I now want to do. Not knowing what I want to do does not exactly want to make me flush $40,000 down the toilet on a whim with a masters degree that means as little as my bachelor's degree.
Maybe it's not just my lack of career opportunities, maybe it's the fact that I am celebrating yet another birthday single. Being single is not my favorite thing, but I also enjoy being alone at times too. I think it bothers my family, friends, and co-workers more than it actually bothers myself. I hate the head tilt of when someone feels sorry for me that I am single which in their mind means I have issues in someway and deserve to be alone or a I need to be pitied. Maybe that's just Cincinnati talk. The land where everyone gets married at 22 to their high sweetheart or whatever person they happened to be dating at the end of college or around the age of 25-30. You ask them if this is the person they want to spend the rest of their life with and they're not sure, but they know they want to spend today and tomorrow with them and want to have kids within the next few years so they'll work for now. They'll deal with love issues later. I know this is quite the truth because in the past two years I've been to over ten weddings and I think I've only seen one couple that was truly ready to take the plunge and not because it was time, they believe their eggs are getting old at 22, or because their parents want them to get married, but because they are really in love and want a life together.
The more I write the more bitter about life I sound. I don't feel this way at all, but my lack of a career and single life are definitely my achilles' heels. I have amazing friends and family, but I'm realizing that the both come with more issues as you get older. My friends are fabulous and I honestly wouldn't change a thing about them. We include each other in our lives, travel together, and make sure that we see each other several times a week. I absolutely love how supportive we are and I think others are actually jealous of the group we have created.
My family is also great. I have a phenomenal relationship with my mother, tolerate my father and brother, and deeply love and respect my grandparents. It seems that the people that have married into the family are causing the most issues. My stepmother has always despised me because she believes that I take my father away from her being that I am the only girl out of the kids. The only time I am ever invited to see the family is on holidays and this is about the only time I see my father or little brothers. I used to be incredibly close to my brother until he married the Shedevil. She put on a good front for awhile sucking up to my aunt, cousin, and mother, but now she has burned all her bridges and forced my brother to no longer speak with my mother's family. It is just absolutely ridiculous. She wants him all to herself. Sometimes I think my brother is going to go home and she's going to be cooking a rabbit in a pot or that she's going to pull a "Leave Her to Heaven" scene and murder the family dog because he was taking away too much time from her. I actually had to text my brother today to please contact our mother so she can be wished a happy mother's day. Pathetic.
I guess for now I will continue on analyzing my life as it comes and hopefully have the balls to actually do something about it. To figure out what kind of career I want, put myself out there to date more, stand up to the Shedevil, or to at least be happy with the cards I have right now if I'm not willing to change it. For now I'm not feeling life this is going to happen, but it's at least something to ponder for tonight and for the future.
Maybe it's not just my lack of career opportunities, maybe it's the fact that I am celebrating yet another birthday single. Being single is not my favorite thing, but I also enjoy being alone at times too. I think it bothers my family, friends, and co-workers more than it actually bothers myself. I hate the head tilt of when someone feels sorry for me that I am single which in their mind means I have issues in someway and deserve to be alone or a I need to be pitied. Maybe that's just Cincinnati talk. The land where everyone gets married at 22 to their high sweetheart or whatever person they happened to be dating at the end of college or around the age of 25-30. You ask them if this is the person they want to spend the rest of their life with and they're not sure, but they know they want to spend today and tomorrow with them and want to have kids within the next few years so they'll work for now. They'll deal with love issues later. I know this is quite the truth because in the past two years I've been to over ten weddings and I think I've only seen one couple that was truly ready to take the plunge and not because it was time, they believe their eggs are getting old at 22, or because their parents want them to get married, but because they are really in love and want a life together.
The more I write the more bitter about life I sound. I don't feel this way at all, but my lack of a career and single life are definitely my achilles' heels. I have amazing friends and family, but I'm realizing that the both come with more issues as you get older. My friends are fabulous and I honestly wouldn't change a thing about them. We include each other in our lives, travel together, and make sure that we see each other several times a week. I absolutely love how supportive we are and I think others are actually jealous of the group we have created.
My family is also great. I have a phenomenal relationship with my mother, tolerate my father and brother, and deeply love and respect my grandparents. It seems that the people that have married into the family are causing the most issues. My stepmother has always despised me because she believes that I take my father away from her being that I am the only girl out of the kids. The only time I am ever invited to see the family is on holidays and this is about the only time I see my father or little brothers. I used to be incredibly close to my brother until he married the Shedevil. She put on a good front for awhile sucking up to my aunt, cousin, and mother, but now she has burned all her bridges and forced my brother to no longer speak with my mother's family. It is just absolutely ridiculous. She wants him all to herself. Sometimes I think my brother is going to go home and she's going to be cooking a rabbit in a pot or that she's going to pull a "Leave Her to Heaven" scene and murder the family dog because he was taking away too much time from her. I actually had to text my brother today to please contact our mother so she can be wished a happy mother's day. Pathetic.
I guess for now I will continue on analyzing my life as it comes and hopefully have the balls to actually do something about it. To figure out what kind of career I want, put myself out there to date more, stand up to the Shedevil, or to at least be happy with the cards I have right now if I'm not willing to change it. For now I'm not feeling life this is going to happen, but it's at least something to ponder for tonight and for the future.
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