Day Nine - My Christmas Gift to Myself

I have a new self-imposed challenge...but I'm not going to disclose the full challenge for fear of failure.

But I will tell you I'm on day nine today.  Day nine of a "get your bottom to the gym X days in a row you silly slacker you" kick.

You see, I'd been quite casual about visiting my beloved Koko Fit Club.   I'd been letting my personal social anxiety overpower me and honestly I was talking myself out of visits with rational like "I'm not feeling nice today, I don't want to hurt Jeff's (the owner and usual staff member) feelings by being short.  Ummm...yeah.  That's a good reason to skip the gym, especially when the reason I got to the gym is primarily to improve my anxiety and moodiness.

So, after the Thanksgiving holiday, when I realized I'd not seen the inside of Koko and not plugged my Koko Key in to a smart trainer in over SIX days...shame filled me.

You see at Koko your workouts are tracked, you log into your My Koko account and you can see how you're doing, etc.  Each time when you setup to either the Koko Smart-trainer or one of the cardio machines, it lets you know when you last visited.  It's embarrassing to go as long as I had, especially when I drive PAST the gym every day to and from work AND the workouts are only 30 minutes!!!  (I could walk there from home in less than 5 minutes it's so darn close)

In any case, I've made a new pledge to close out 2010 with a bang and give myself a wonderful Christmas gift of time.  I've pledged to myself permission to take the time to fill my days with things that make me proud of myself, instead of giving myself excuses to be less than my best -- starting with an easily tracked and tangible appointment with the gym.  Each day I have a promise to myself to give myself 30 minutes, 30 minutes of time dedicated to me and me alone.

Really, in life so often we're consumed with external pressures -- be it social obligations, work, family...that we forget that without nurturing ourselves a little each day, there is NO way we can handle the rest of our realities.  I hope that by teaching myself to have 30 minutes of gym time I will soon be able to call that a habit and expand that personal focus time to other things such as meditation, etc.

After the first of the year, the first week of 2011, if I make my goal for December...I plan to rock the new year with this amazing eating challenge for 2 weeks from my new favorite product Amazing Grass.  I've been starting each day with a quick glass of OJ and Green Superfood and I've got to tell you that combined with my dedication at the gym is really helping the old mood and energy levels.

I'm headed into the busy time of year at work and in life -- end of year -- and I'm happy to report that I think this might be the first year I'll get to say I'm doing things right for a change!!

I hope you all give yourself the gift this holiday season of the permission to take a moment (or several) just for you too, you deserve it.

The Ask - by Sam Lipsyte

The Ask - By Sam Libsyte

My most recent commuting partner has been The Ask, by Sam Libsyte.  This is his 3rd novel, but the first I have read.  A satirical, dark novel The Ask was a quick read (try 3 train rides).

In an era where estate and income taxes for the wealthiest Americans are being debated this timely novel that centers around the world of development for a smaller educational institution hits home.  The main character Milo is a lowly development officer in a world where there are still "the ruler and the ruled" in terms of economic power equaiting to societal value. In The Ask we follow Milo as he navigates the extremes that come between those that have and those that do not.

Milo is a self-hating dreamer who failed to achieve the dreams of his youth and is now in what comes across as a mediocre existence -- although to some his young son and wife would be "the dream" -- his additional trials are certainly something that many in today's environment of an astounding 9.3% unemployment rate will relate to.   He finds himself in the lowest of his low days only to be reunited with a college pal, who has made quite the fortune and needs Milo's help in a personal task.  Milo is quickly drawn into a world that does nothing to help him out of his depression.  In fact, he is surrounded by iconic figures which reach out to the reader and shake them into the fact that this is not just Milo's reality, but a conversation about the reality in which we all find ourselves today.

As Milo's world closes around him the reader is filled with a general sense of dread and bleakness that can only come from good writing. 

Here's a few other reviews of this book that might interest you from The NY Times  and my personal favorite, if for nothing else but the unique and equally depressing citations, The LA Times.

"According to Santa Fe Institute economist Samuel Bowles, roughly one out of every four Americans is now employed guarding the wealth of the rich."  

Sadly, if you, me and 2 other people were in a room...I'd be that one.

You see, I work for an organization that acts as servants to development officers that work to serve the wealthy...as such I can't help but be left with a bit of a depressive hang-over after completing this novel.

Overall, this is a well-crafted tale that keeps you interested until the last word.  Certainly worth your time, but make sure you've got something light and airy to act as dessert to this heavy intellectual meal.

Fewer steps = greater chance of failure?!

Burnt Rice

I don't know about you, but the simplicity that is making rice has challenged my skills for years. 

Either it's burnt, or too al dente or mushy or just weird.  I could NEVER get the perfect rice, even with loads of patience and reading every how to article on the web.  I've done everything short of buying a rice maker that sings to you -- these exist and are AMAZING (I just have a tiny horribly designed kitchen)! 

Mushy Rice

Then stepped in my good pal Ellen with her fool proof way to make rice so that every single time it comes out chewy, fluffy in perfect.

You take it off the gal-darn stove top and pop that stinker into the oven.  That's right rice making as you know it has forever changed for the better friends.

To make this perfect "set it and forget it" rice - all you do is put the rice in a baking dish with a 1:2 ratio rice:water - toss in some flavoring should you choose (dehydrated peppers anyone, anyone?!?) cover with foil and pop in a 350°F oven for about an hour.  Volia - rice perfect each and every time.

Perfect Oven Baked Rice with Zucchini - Tales of a Spoon

Uninterrupted Online Multitasking

Okay, maybe I'm behind the curve here, but I've recently started a new habit when browsing the web that's genuinely made me happy.  So, of course, I want to share the happy.

I used to read along on a page and when a link came up that interested me, either I'd click and leave the page at that time or I'd try to remember to come back to it.

Now I've started taking advantage of the options that are available if you right click a link instead of just clicking it.  Specifically, I've started using "open link in a new tab" whenever anything catches my eye.  As such, I can finish reading what I'm reading currently, then move on to the next interesting item.

I've found this particularly helpful when I'm hunting a recipe or idea for something to bring to a party.  I can open all the interesting options in separate tabs and then when I'm through looking at options review the ones that caught my eye.

Now I just have to learn to stop before I have 50 tabs of stuff I wanna read later and actually read some of it!

Hope this helps your browsing experience as much as mine.

Ps.  My ever so intelligent sister pointed out that I should note that the way links appear after you click on them - either taking you to that site or by opening a new window is a default based on how the page was designed.  Interesting to consider when working on ones own site for sure!

Such A Pretty Face

My good pal and fellow avid reader sent me this fantastic book, Such A Pretty Face, by Cathy Lamb.  My pal noted it was one of her favorites and after page 14 I was already quite sure I understood why.  I DEVOURED this book in a matter of 3 days.  It is intense and wonderful and heart-wrenching and heartwarming all at the same time.

The novel centers around the life of Stevie Barrett - a now thirty something that has been through hell in her short life.  From a schizophrenic murdering mother to a heart-attack at the age of 32 due to a serious weight issue this novel sifts through Stevie's memories as she recovers from the heart break she allowed to build up inside her until her heart, well genuinely broke.

From eating disorders to multiple personalities to alcoholism and beyond...this book examines neurosis and the way that different people work through the challenges that life presents in a beautiful, non-preaching sort of way.

The metaphors through-out the novel are sharp and clear without being overbearing.  We cheer as Stevie works to find out what being Stevie means and finds out what love means - love of herself, love of the world and love of others.

What I found so wonderful about this book is not only the graphic, no-holds barred look into the mental disorders that so often tear at the souls of people but also the unforgiving way it honestly shows that not everyone is perfect and not everyone is a hero.

The novel also does a wonderful job of weaving a love story within the main characters life without that ever being the main theme for the character.  In so much, finding romance does not heal Stevie and does not make her whole - she does that, she works to fix herself, her life and her soul and reaps the benefits of doing so.  She never gives herself up to the romance in such a way that she loses herself or the reader loses sight of the true self-work Stevie is faced with.

I can't recommend this book enough, but make sure you keep some tissues on hand as you work through it.  No matter how stable you are this honest book is sure to explore some deep wounds and make your breath catch as the tears fall in a refreshing release that can only come from true, honest writing.

A perfect read.

Oh the silly things I do because I'm cheap

I'm cheap.  I have trouble spending money and I horde it until then I go on a crazy spree for a day, then follow that spree up with months of guilt-ridden hording again.  I'm just silly like that.

Recently I've been growing my hair out.  I whacked it off in a moment of - "I'm changing my life darn it!!!" and have spent every day since growing it back out.  I'm just silly like this too.

Well being the cheapymccheappants that I am - I got a giant bottle of conditioner at TJMaxx for $10.  Go me, I thought, it was Rosemary Mint, made by a reputable brand not the original maker of said flavor? scent? whatever. I thought I'd done a good thing.

My long lost soul sister

You see, I don't buy or use hair products, so a splurge of $10 on a giant bottle would be a-okay.  I don't use hair products because I'm traumatized by them.  You see...when I was 15 I dated a boy who I desperately wanted to impress.  So, he was taking me to a party one night and I was so excited -- he was older and so were his friends.  I had to look amazing!  Amazing to the 15 year old me meant hair spray, lots of hair spray.  Short story my hair was crazy crunchy and he made fun of me.  No products since for this broad.

Day 1 &2 of conditioner - my hair is kinda weird, but smells awesome, I blame the weirdness on the weather.

Day 3 & 4 of conditioner - my hair is still weird and beginning to have less amazing odor.  I figure, I'm getting used to scent, and my hair is boycotting going to work, no bigs.

Day 5 of conditioner - my hair is still weird and I notice a slightly less that lovely odor coming from my hand as I raise it to apply said conditioner.  Needless to say, that was the end of conditioner.

A good friend suggested a specific brand of conditioner to me and I said "Sure! I'll pick it up after the gym tonight!"  Alas, after the gym came and I couldn't bring myself to spend money on conditioner again, plus the whole Sodium Lauryl Sulfate making your hair fall out debate terrifies me and most brands carried at the local CVS are chock full of the stuff.  I decided I'd wait until my hair fell out or I got paid again instead.  I didn't want to dip into my hording pile for something that has more natural ingredients just yet you see.

But that left me in a quandary.  I can't not use conditioner, I have curly hair!! How can I salvage this situation!?

Then I started to think old school -- we're talking Roman Times old school.  I got inventive and historic all in one fell swoop. I considered, what did they use for moisturizer in historic times?  (remember I was just reading a book set in the 2nd century and they talked all about beauty products!)  The answer?  Olive Oil.  That's right folks, I decided to use Olive Oil.

So, before my shower, I google my historic idea and find others in support of my hair-brained solution to my self inflicted problem.  I generally try not to use too much non-natural stuff on my body and hair, just another quirk of mine.  I didn't want to just pour my olive oil over my head, that seemed too uneven an application and messy too.  What to do?  Then I remember that in my cheap style I have this most amazing kitchen tool - The Misto - it saves me from buying Pam and other gross stuff filled cans to keep my food from becoming one with the pan.

So, I troted into the kitchen, grab The Misto (best thing ever, can't say it enough) and proceed to apply it much like I did the hairspray back in my youth, I went crazy with the stuff -- people don't change folks, it's proven. 

Soft, but flat hair.

Anyway, end result is my hair is crazy soft today, I mean awesome, but sort of flat.  Which isn't ideal either, but at least it's shiny and soft!  I'll definitely keep up the olive oil routine for softness, but I'm not sure how to also get my curls to well, curl while using this technique.  More research is needed and probably I should explore some more modern techniques as a long term solution.

Anyway,  for a quick and easy hair masque I think I'm going to do this at least once a week going forward - my hair was that soft!

Oh, I know you think this is sad and sort of twisted.  But wait. Just  wait until I break the story on how I used vinegar to make my hair shine. Pure Awesomeness.

Until next time...

Online Savings

As we near the first of two family filled whirlwind holidays - I'd like to remind you online shoppers of my favorite little trick.

ONLINE COUPONS!!!!

There I said it.  Please tell me that each time you make an online purchase you Google the store's name with the word coupon after it just before you check out.  If you don't, you're missing out on serious opportunities my friends.

Free add-ins, discounts on shipping, discounts on bottom-line...they're there and it only takes an extra minute to do a quick check in a second tab, copy a discount code then plug it into your checkout.  Volia, magic extra savings.

So go forth and save friends, go forth and save.

Coffee Additives

Recently my sister (my food-loving idol) texted me asking, "Have you ever heard of putting a dash of salt in your coffee grounds?"

I had not heard of such a thing dear reader, but quickly the power of the interwebs quickly informed me that I was sorely missing out on a hot new way to make your crappy coffee better (my cheap heart sung loudly and proudly).  A quick search on the topic turned out a Chowhound (if you don't know about Chowhound, you should learn - best community driven food site in the history of the internet - restaurant reviews, recipes, best practices...) and this post came up.

I was sold.  For years, we (sis and I) have been adding a dash of cinnamon to coffee grounds for a subtle sweet flavor (we swore off sugar in our coffee a while back)...but salt?!  This was uncharted territory.

With the rage of salted carmel that began late year (maybe the one before) this wasn't too far a strech of the imagination - however it was still foreign.

I don't drink much coffee, but I had to try it.

Lickety split - I ran to my co-workers coffee maker and doctored up what I assumed was going to be the most awesome pot of coffee ever.  I measured my grounds exactly and then I ran to get a salt packet from the lunch room (glowing in my pride of resourcefulness) and I dumped the lil' packet in (maybe a 1/4T) and set the wheels of the coffee gods in motion.


What I didn't take into consideration was the fact that I was working with a 4 cup coffee maker.  So, when I raised my amazing creation to my lips, eager for a treat - I was smacked in the face with salty, gross gross flavored, incredibly smooth coffee.

The next day, I tried again, only this time I added a mere pinch of salt to my grounds and the change in my coffee was simply astounding.  Really, the cheap Folger's coffee I had hidden in my desk suddenly had a wonderful round flavor without any of the bitterness that so often accompanies it.

In short - I love this idea and HIGHLY recommend it -- but do yourself a favor, use a pinch of salt, not a packet.

Why Does Everyone Treat Me Like Crap?!

"If you want to change the way others treat you, you should first change the way you treat yourself.  Unless you learn to love yourself fully and sincerely, there is no way you can be loved." 

- One of The Forty Rules of Love

That's right.  I'm beating this book to death.  I told you I would, so please, don't be surprised. These lessons are simply just too important to let go of and I love that I now have a platform to jump off of to tell you and me about this!

So often in life I/we feel mistreated by others.  We wonder why everyone in our life feels toxic, why people take us for granted, why they don't love us as we love them.  

I highly recommend checking out this site 100 Ways to You can Start Loving Yourself and seeing if any of these options might fit neatly into your life.  Honestly, I feel a surge of "I can do this!" when reading this artfully written guideline post.

It is only once we begin to love ourselves, have respect for ourselves and our boundaries and truly believe at the core that we are wonderful, loving individuals as we are that we will begin to see that those that treat us poorly either fall away or learn to treat us well.  These people are challenges presented in our lives, to test our own self love.  As such, you choose to pass or fail.  If you do not believe yourself a good person, you will allow others to treat you poorly and believe you are "deserving" of such treatment.  So, rather than try to change their mind - work on your own.

Here are a few more people that explore this topic from a more educated angle, should you crave that kind of explanation:

Linda Binns - The Feng Shui Success Strategist - How well do you treat yourself?

Midwest Stress Center Coach - Tami Walker - If You Don't Love Yourself How Can You Love Anyone?

Margaret Paul, Ph.D. - What Really Creates Happiness?

"Fret not where the road will take you.  Instead concentrate on the first steps."

Don't Worry, Be Happy!

Happy Friday All Ya'll!!

While I was sitting waiting on my train this morning, I heard a song on the radio that took me back...way back...to the first grade talent show.

In the show I danced with my group to "Your Momma Don't Dance" - my mom made us poodle skirts, with sequins.  What a good momma she was.

The other group did a wonderful rendition of "Don't Worry, Be Happy!"  They wore straw hats and Hawaiian shirts and did jazz hands on each side of their face as they swayed to the entire song.  Magical memory I tell you...

So, enjoy the following video and I hope it shapes your Friday in the same way it shaped mine.  I mean, why not be happy?


BOBBY MCFERRIN-DON'T WORRY BE HAPPY
Uploaded by pierrot77. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

Enneagram

Pretty

Ox

You know how horoscope sites always have a Love Chart?  They're fun and always seem to nail the personality on the head, but are still ya know, just a horoscope.

Well, I was stumbling the other day and came upon this excellent love chart based on Enneagram tests.  It's fun because this author did a full study of marriages and how people naturally partnered up.

So, naturally I fire off an email asking Ox to complete this particular Ennegram test immediately and I also do the same.  I wanted to see how readily we fell into the research provided and also, how likely it was we'd stick around because honestly kids?  Some days I feel like we're on different planets or wish we were (but I don't want him to go too far, like another galaxy, so I can still stalk him with my telescope).

Anyway - Mr. Man's research is dead on.  Ox and I fell into the highest occurring group for our particular numbers.

I personally am a 1 (reformer) and he is a 9 (peacemaker).

Meaning his key motivators are: Want to create harmony in their environment, to avoid conflicts and tension, to preserve things as they are, to resist whatever would upset or disturb them.

And mine are: Want to be right, to strive higher and improve everything, to be consistent with their ideals, to justify themselves, to be beyond criticism so as not to be condemned by anyone.

How exactly those two personality groups are the most likely to match up is beyond me, but it was a fun little experiment for sure.  Probably just as reliable as the Love Charts, but hey equally as fun!!  Plus, it's comforting knowing I'm not the first girl to hunt down a totally passive and sweet boy and torment him regularly!

So, try it out.  It's interesting what the results are and even more interesting to see if you're in a common partnership, or if you're an outlier!

Unsolicitated Christmas Lists - A Much Needed Rant

Okay folks 'tis the season.

I need some advice here.  I've gotten several unsolicited Christmas Wish Lists sent to me as of late and I'm not really sure how I feel about it.

Overall, I'm done shopping.  I've purchased things for people, things that made me happy to be getting them gifts - which is really my bottom line for this whole guilt driven holiday.  But now, I have these weird lists from people.

Ox's sister just sent one to me for his little niece and well...we've already gotten her gift - it's a Giant Gummy Bear on a Stick and I'm pretty darn excited to be giving it to her.

Now in my inbox pops up this whole long email about where they're registered for Christmas - SERIOUSLY registered for Christmas?!?!?!  I didn't even know it was possible.  Then a list of things to get should we not like anything on the list...awesomely cool Giant Gummy Bear on a Stick is no where on that list.

So, now am I a total jerk for not getting something from the list?  Am I a jerk for getting my shopping done early?!  I know the sender of the list was trying to be helpful, but I can't help but feel it's rude to assume I'm getting them anything in the first place.  Since when is it assumed you'll get anything?!?  I feel terrible for having this gut reaction to this situation at the same time, I don't really want to go out and get new gifts or show up with something someone will be irritated with...bah humbug.

Honestly, I'm pretty irritated at the whole darn thing.  This darn holiday shouldn't make me feel bad EVER and yet, even in my most prepared, most finanically stable year - I'm left feeling a knot in my stomach.

Methinks The Grinch was on to something...

Are we there yet?

"Patience does not mean to passively endure.  It means to be farsighted enough to trust the end result of a process." - from The Forty Rules of Love

Oh waiting, it is the worst.  Your mind becomes a hamster wheel of energy.  You're desperate for a solution, an action, something, WOULD SOMETHING JUST HAPPEN ALREADY?!!?

Sure, that's the first gut instinct on what your mind wants to do.  But in reality, does that ever help?  Does jumping the gun really get you better results?  Methinks no.  So often, we lose our patience with something and in doing so make an action on our own -- we lose faith that the Flow will help us out and in doing so, we deviate from our paths.

Inevitably, once you deviate from your path, you will then take the long road back to your path.  So, patience, in the long run saves time.  Crazy, yes?

In an effort to be more patient with people, ideas, myself I've been spending more and more time meditating.  I'm not a zen-master or anything and I certainly don't levitate.  But, I do find that even 5 minutes focusing on my breath, taking deep breaths and quieting my mind ensures that I'm the better version of me rather than the crazy, anxious, hamster-on-a-marathon-brain driven monster that I was so often in my younger days.

Need some tips on meditation or perhaps some guides?  Here are a few resources to get you started:

What is Meditation?
How to Meditate - a guided video
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care's downloadable Guided Meditation
Dr. Deepak Chopra's Guided Meditation

So, humor me.  Allow yourself 5 minutes to focus on you...you'll be amazed at the results.

Ps. sorry for 2 posts, the previous one refused to reformat into anything remotely attractive and in true, non-patience after 5 tries, I simply gave up.  Guess I need to re-read this post, huh?!

Quotes. Quotes. Quotes, quotes, quotes.

Listen to this goofy yet, unforgettable song and then re-read the title to this post.

Okey dokey.  Now that you're in a similarly goofy mood to mine, I believe it's a good time to check out another poignant quote from The Forty Rules of Love.

"One thing that has helped me personally in the past was to stop interfering with the people around me and getting frustrated when I couldn't change them.  Instead of intrusion or passivity may I suggest submission?" 

I am partial to this particular quote for a number or reasons.  Primarily this quote reminded me of my family members.  You see I love my family, but there are a few people who I simply KNOW could be leading better lives if they just <insert common sense action here>.

 Ox is forever worrying about me when I mention that one of these particular people have contacted me.  He knows that I take it all much to personally.  I get frustrated that I cannot offer the appropriate advice for these people and that usually offering any advice to what seems to be an irritatingly repeated issue only ends in raised blood pressure and frustration coupled with injured feelings.

I always felt it was my place to help guide these people to better lives, to help them see the light that I have seen in The Flow, in interacting with others, in my career path, etc and so on.

How very condescending of me, right?

No two experiences are a like, no matter how similar they seem on the surface.  Certainly what got me to a peaceful place, which I'm now desperately trying to become comfortable in, will not be the same way for others to go.

I need to work embodying this quote and simply submitting.  Not everyone necessarily chooses the same adventure as others. Just being willing to go along and listen to them is what is really important, because what they want in their life may or may not match what I want.  In fact, if I knew what I wanted, I'd be spending much less time seeking for whatever it might be that completes me.

Which leads me to my next interesting quote, "No matter who we are or where we live, deep inside we all feel incomplete.  It's like we have lost something and need to get it back.  Just what that something is, most of us never find out.  And of those who do, even fewer go out and look for it."

 I'd like to be one of those rare folks that isolates what makes me feel incomplete and go look for it as well.  I'm hoping blogging, reading and simply opening my soul up to this idea will put the proper wheels in motion for this.  I mean after all, "Although it is a fact that He (enlightenment) cannot be found by seeking, only those who seek can find Him (enlightenment)."

So, it is good to remember that you cannot find enlightenment by seeking it, however only those that seek will be able to open themselves up to enlightenment finding them.

Cutting down on the judging and forcing and manipulation of others will surely  lighten my soul's load and allow me to focus on my own journey.

You don't know what you have until it's gone

Ox's work is a little different than his kin's.

Ox has recently restarted work after a bit of a lapse in employment.  Actually, not so much a lapse, but a seasonal gig that has yet to become full-time is what he does for work.


He's had this gig since we started dating and I've always been a bit leery of the whole - I work sometimes and I don't sometimes.

He always has side-jobs he can do when he's not employed by his employer...however, it just didn't feel "right" to me for him to not have a full-time job.  I mean, how do I explain that?  How is he ever  going to "get" anywhere or move forward without a full-time job?!

Yeah, I was/am a bit of a stinker.

I mean, who am I to say that I'm doing the right thing by working 9-5 at a full-time job?  Ox is always up-to-date on our joint budget.  It's not like I'm supporting him, so how is it even up to me to say anything about this?!?

I guess, I just was afraid.  I was afraid that he'd turn into someone I didn't know, or worse someone I do know that I'm not too impressed by and consistently not be employed or able to support himself.

So, basically, I was worrying about the future -- which is a total mystery.

To quote one of my favorite movie characters - Oogway, the master turtle in Kung Fu Panda, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today...is a gift.  That's why it is called "the present."

Sure, sure, sure.  It's a cartoon turtle.  But he's a wise old dude.

While I've known this and tried to practice it.  Ox going back to work clearly defines WHY this quote is so important.

Sure, while Ox isn't working as much we aren't in a position to do as many "fun" things.  BUT he's home.  He's there when I get home from work and he's there when I wake up.  We can do anything we want on Friday nights since he's not working late and he's not sore and tired from physical labor all day.

These beautiful days are simple and wonderful and I'm certain that I will miss them while he is away at work.

So, I'm posting this now - to remind myself when I start getting anxious and start laying on all my personal "shoulds."

The fact remains that so often we know what to do to move our lives forward, to break the cycles, we simply forget the pain we endure by not doing so in good moments and then lose focus and lapse back into our destructive behavior.

So this is my pledge to myself and to you dear reader, I will remember...I will grow.

I hope you do too.

The Forty Rules Of Love

"How we see God is a direct reflection of how wee see ourselves..."

I think I've mentioned before, but I am not a religious person perse, but I do hold a strong believe in The Flow and as such I would be considered spiritual. So, please do not think that I have suddenly become "born again" or anything of that nature.  Much to the contrary - what I am about to discuss has only solidified within me my believes of an energy in the world that leads us gently along and our own role in leading ourselves.

My most recent book, The Forty Rules of Love - by Elif Shafak, has caused me a few moments of enlightenment and I'm just on page 50!  The quote above is one such line that intensely spoke to me.


Something I think that speaks to everyone on some level us the search for meaning.  We all want to have a reason for being, to understand our purpose here and find our passions.  This subject is highly relateable and as such the book is a joyous, quick read.

Ironically, the story in this novel is that of a women searching for meaning in her life, which she finds in her career as a reader for a large publishing company when a chance novel crosses her path and leaves her forever changed.

The author entwines the modern day story with one written in the 1200's in Arabia.  The older story touches on mysticism and the search for something deeper in life.  It is the older story, which holds the quotes which gave me cause for pause.

Perhaps it is only with great fortune in life that one has time to have these such concerns.  I feel that it is my current, comfortable lifestyle that allows me now to introspect in a way that is causing me to take long pauses to meditate nearly every other page as I work my way through this novel.  I assume, that I will have several posts to better understand myself as I work through this wonderful book -- and I hope you'll understand.

So, as I believe in The Flow - I have always come to the understanding that what I see as God is within myself in some way.  However, the line regarding the reflection of ourselves in how we define God or in my case, The Flow is an interesting one.  If not only is God within us, but also a reflection of ourselves -- one must hope that that reflection can change and grow as we also change and grow.

You see, I've recently achieved a long-term goal of mine, a financial goal, but a goal nonetheless that has shaped much of my recent time here on Earth.  Having both achieved my personal financial goal and then also the long-awaited goal of being in a stable, healthy relationship...I've found myself searching for definition again.

I've been floundering for a purpose, a passion, something.  Something within me that would point my internal compass onward.  The quote of today reminds me that regardless of what that something is, it's inside of me.  I know what that next step/place is and yet I am blocking myself from it.

This past weekend I came aware that I was doing a few things that brought my spirit down rather than up - even though they were things I once quite enjoyed.  They were things that I feel no longer served to move me along this journey in life, but yet I've done so long that they are "part of who I am."  I struggle to balance my efforts to be enlightened with reality and living in real situations. 

To open this book on a Monday and feel so very entwined it it's story and to have my inner learning vein filled with new blood, well I consider that a Flow Fritter and am quite joyous to have something to regain my momentum with.

I'll leave you with this other quote as I continue in the ponderous of this book.

"The Path to Truth is a labor of the heart, not of the head.  Make your heart your primary guide! Not your mind.  Meet, challenge and ultimately prevail over your nafs with your heart.  Knowing your ego will lead you to the knowledge of God."

Who Needs Salad Dressing

Who needs dressings I ask again?

When your salad greens are amazing and flavorful and fresh?!?

The answer is NO ONE.

Let me introduce you to my most favorite greens in the entire world.

Olivia's Organics is an amazing company, but more than that their greens - particularly their salad mixes are inventive and interesting.  They also work to give back to their community through local children's charities.

My favorite mix is their Herb Salad Mix -  it has a great mix of unusual greens as wells as dill and parsley.  It's the most perfect mix ever.  I eat it without dressing and I honestly say I don't miss it.  I tried dressing on a salad with this the other day and I was honestly sad, because the dressing covered the delicate, wonderful, perfect flavors of the greens.

So, print out a coupon here and gettcha some!!

Not to Brag (dust, dust of the shoulder) But...

My oldest sister and I have a tradition of getting together at Thanksgiving -- most of my family lives more toward the middle of the country but this particular sis calls the east coast her home as well.




Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because of a lot of reasons, mainly I'm a hungry, hungry hippo.

Each year her husband and the two of us gals take much care in planning out the amazing menus and look for challenges for our cooking techniques.

The bar was set in 2008 when we did an amazing pork loin with this parsnip and pear puree that you just wanted to take a bath in, and then drink up.

All that said I think that 2010 has a chance of trumping the existing champion.

Ladies and Gentleman, I now reveal to you THANKSGIVING 2010!!

Aperitif and Appetizers

Pear-Rosemary Cocktails

Cheddar and Bacon Gougers

Oysters with Apple Ginger Mignonette

Main Course

Roasted Garlic & Meyer Lemon - Rubbed Turkey

Sausage and Artichoke Stuffing

Broccolini with Smoked Paprika, Almonds and Garlic

Rosemary Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Truffle Oil

Cranberry Sauce with Port and Cinnamon

Dessert

Pumpkin-Pecan Pie with Whiskey Butter Sauce

Let the countdown to dining heaven begin!!

Only 15 more mouthwatering days....

Tip O' The Week

I have this spice rack, I've had it for a number of years.  When Ox and I moved in together, I realized that in the number of years that I'd owned the the spice rack I've not ever replenished the spices in the rack.  And even more disturbing was the fact that the spice rack came pre-filled.

So, I dumped all the spices and hadn't gotten around to replenishing all the different containers.

Today though I realized I was missing some key spices (Basil, Oregano, etc).

So, Ox and I went to a local natural store that I simply adore, Debra's Natural Gourmet.  Debra's offers a huge selection of bulk goods - grains, legumes and spices.  There are tons of amazingly interesting spices that I had no idea about, things like chrysanthemum flowers,  crystallized ginger, etc etc .  Everything smelled amazing, I couldn't decide on which spices I wanted!  But, in an effort to contain my excitement - I narrowed it down to 3 spices and I filled up the little packages.

When Ox and I arrived at the register - I didn't know what to expect.  I mean, most the spices went for $44 plus a pound.  You know how much they charge in the grocery for even a small container of spices - minimum $5.  So, I was at least ready to pay at least $10 for my 3 packets of spices and still think I was getting a good deal.

You see, I did it to have fresher spices and go through my inventory faster.  I knew Debra's has better quality products than what you can get from a large spice manufacturer. 

So, when the cashier said... ninety-two cents.  I had to take a momentary pause and consider the fortune in my decision to buy bulk spices.

NINETY TWO CENTS people.  This is a miracle.   I am very excited to use my new spices tomorrow!

So, my tip to you is buy your spices in bulk my friends!!

One of my fav reads

Happy Sunday all!

I'd like to share with you one of my favorite reads - Smart, Pretty and Awkward - by Molly Ford.  I think I've mentioned this blog before, but today's spoke to me as it's timely for so may of those in my life.

Read,  enjoy. 

I hope you had a wonderful weekend and enjoy a relaxing Sunday!!!

Candy Monster!

Halloween was a joyous time filled with friends, food and fun.  However, I let my guard down some and well, I got on that candy train....and I ate, and I ate, and I ate.

Well, yesterday I found myself in a foul, foul mood and I was completely broken out...that's when I realized it'd happened, I'd become A CANDY MONSTER!!

There's tons of write ups on the ills of candy and processed foods - particularly interesting to me though is the effects that sugar can have on one's mental state AKA launching you into depression. There's tons of information on the web on this issue. Two struck me as interesting this personal account and then this article written by Annette Nay, Ph.D. are two such examples of the effects of sugar and sugar addictions.

Anywho.  After my realization on what I'd done to my lil body and mind I decided to make some serious changes.  Winter is always hard for me to stay positive, so making these changes now will hopefully make this dark season a bit brighter.

I've decided to re-implement a breakfast routine that I used to have and let fall by the wayside.  I'm going to be enjoying Green Monster's for breakfast.  They are an amazing way to start your day by giving your body good fuel to hit the ground running.

I got the idea from Angela - from over at Oh She Glows.  She's an amazing vegan baker/blogger/runner/motivator.  As a whole Angela does a wonderful job of inspiring her readers through action to realize how what you put in your body is what you get out.  Check her out if you get a chance!  Her blog is certainly something that helps keep me on track on the whole self-care manifesto.

How do you start your day?

Oh, ps...I'm giving up coffee at work as well...dumdumdahhhhh!!!

Day after Election....

Politics are hard. 

Managing personalities and ideas, knowing that if you fix X then Y breaks, not knowing if the people we choose to represent us will really listen to us or who's really calling the shot (cough Lobbyists cough).  

After yesterday and emails flying and facebook status' judging and people asking you if you voted...then they wanted to talk about voting and their opinions and everyone gets their panties in wads...le sigh.  It makes me want a le nap.

I think we should all just get a day of zen here to congratulate us all on making it to November 3rd.

Say it with me now....ahhhhhhhhhhh.

Life's gonna be okay, even if the people "running" the country are all stressed out -- it's not that bad.  Humanity survives.

Enjoy today my people's!

The Cookbook Collector

Do you ever catch yourself in a moment; full of anticipation, feeling as if you are in the process of solving a complex problem and yet have no idea what it is that your energy is working on or what is pulling at you?

After a day filled with normal dramatics and one particularly challenging calculation at work I found myself in such a state as I made my way back home via bus, train then car.

This feeling has been happening a tad more frequently to me as of late.  It's like almost figuring "it" out, then the solution slips into the recesses of your brain cavity only to leave you with the sense of "what is it?!"

It's a very strange and unsatisfying feeling.  I recall an old Sex in the City episode where Carrie wakes each night with a start, only to realize nothing was wrong and that was so new to her that she was unsettled by it.  Mayhaps that's the situation at hand?  I have no idea.

Luckily, I have been completely enraptured by my most recent library selection.  Side note: if you've not been using your local library to it's fullest, shame on you.  (and me up until recently)  I've rediscovered the wonder that is the library and the whole library system.  I send them an email saying I'd like X book -- no matter if my local branch has it -- then voila in a matter of days I receive an email saying "come pick up your book!"  Magic, I'm telling you.

Anyway, back to this amazing book I'm reading.  It's The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman.  It's a book about love and life set in a fairly modern time (mid 90's).  I've been so caught up in this novel this whole week that I've nearly missed my stops on the train several times!  Certainly a good - lose yourself in a book - kind of novel.  It's not particularly life changing, but it is a great story.

Click here for Ron Charles' of the Post's review of the book...he's probably a bit more qualified to review it for you as I've yet to finish!

Needless to say, I'm nearly done with said book and will be looking (and always am looking) for another -- so send in suggestions if you have any of recent titles you've enjoyed!

I have a feeling I might need them to keep whatever it is my subconscious is so diligently working on at bay!!

Have a happy day!

Credit Report dot Com

Aloha, Bonjour, Greetings and Salutations!!

How the heck are you all today?  It's a balmy mid-60's day here in the Northeast and I must say my outlook is sunny today.

I spent the majority of yesterday doing most of my Christmas shopping --- GASP!!!

Yup.  I've completed all the shopping for my family (pat pat pat goes my hand on my back), now I just have Ox's kin-folk to purchase for.  Honestly, his family is fully of babies and 'lil tater-tots (toddlers), so shopping for them is a treat.  I'll give you kids the low down on what I got everyone AFTER the holidays to assist you next year.  I know booo and waaaaah, but my family reads this stuff!!

I WILL tell you I loved the ideas provided by Ree Drumond AKA The Pioneer Woman AKA my idol.  She's the niftiest food, family, photo blogger/love story writer and she has downright impeccable taste when it comes to gifts.  So, check her and her gorg site out.

Now that I've completed all the shopping.  I, of course, choose today to pull my credit report.  Not because I went so wild on my shopping spree that I'm concerned -- but because Ox and I are taking a Homebuying 101 class with some of our close friends and it starts this weekend!!  Interestingly enough, my charges from yesterday do not show yet, making my score and levels that much more attractive  --- plus Ox won't know how much I spent on gifts (score one for Pretty)!

I'm quite excited about this class, I'm hoping it really does help unravel the mysteries and puzzles that are a part of homebuying.  We're not quite ready for a home (probably another year or so out), but with the market as it stands - I think it's not the wrong move to get educated and ready to make a quick move as soon as we're able.

Also, it's exciting because our friends ARE ready to buy.  They're shopping in-fact and I'm loving living vicariously through them.  Plus, having amazing friends to make faces at when things get hard and pass notes too in a long, tedious and slightly overwhelming class certainly can't hurt!!

In any case, I just wanted to let you guys know that if you happen to want to sign up for a monitoring service from one of the credit firms -- I've got a trick.

You see, I ordered a report earlier this year and you only get one free a year, so I had to pay for this one.  But I did so by signing up for the service offered by Experian Direct, one of the three big name credit monitoring providers.  For $1, I received a very attractive credit report and my credit score, plus a lot of other stuff I didn't work through on the site.  You see, I knew I didn't want to continue the service, so once I printed my report I proceeded to call to cancel (otherwise, I'd certainly forget).

They are some closers, those call-center gurus.  They offered me HALF OFF the monthly fees if I wanted to stay (which I did not).  So, my suggestion to you kids?  You want the service, pretend you don't and then reap the benefits of them "saving" your membership!! 


Have yourself a happy day and remember, you might not have all that you want and that might bum you out.  But take a second look and see if you don't have all that you need.

(that rainbow farting Kody (see Sister Wives Post) has got me thinking, if he can be so chipper in the face of so much responsibility...what's my excuse?! Thus, my cheesy ending statement cheering you (and me) along today...)

Flow Fritter!

Available at Amazon.com

When my sister was visiting one of our adventures involved a random, packed-to-the-brim, used bookstore.  Both of us ladies happily stumbled upon literary gems we couldn't wait to read!

I personally found something I'd long since given up hope on ever finding.   The 5th book in the Earth's Children Series by Jean M. Auel.  This series began with the Clan of the Cave Bear - made famous by the 1986 movie staring Daryl Hannah.  You see, this series was my all-time favorite as a child.  A bit mature for my time, but still, a very important novel set to me.  But I reached the 4th book and at that time, Ms. Auel was still working on the 5th novel and I'd given up hope on it ever being written.  Alas, in the depths of this bookstore, I found my arch!   Thank you flow, for that flow fritter!!!

I've since breezed through the book and sent it on to my sister.  But there was an interesting tie to this prehistoric people and a Cooking Light article I recently had the pleasure of reading.

You see Cooking Light was talking about Generation F.  The food oriented generation that takes it one step more than being "foodies".  These are the people that are re-embracing artisanal food.  These are the day-traders of the 90's that have found new meaning to their lives in these new economic times by specializing.  By taking the time to do something amazing and special with food, in a way that no major plant or machine could do.  The results are amazing as a whole new society of localvores is starving for these craft items.

Why does a book about cave people remind me of this article?  Because, in cave times - everyone had a specialty.  That's how they survived.  Some where expert basket weavers, some where hunters, some made great wine.  Then they all worked together, as a society to trade amongst themselves.

Society as a whole is taking some steps to regain their crafts.  People are putting more emphasis on actual skills rather than earning ability.  And these crafts are finding a real solid niche in society.  There's a renewed acceptance of society of the idea of taking the time to make something amazing, instead of working to make it as cheap and in as large a quantity as possible.

Will this reversion to a specialized society help local economies? 

Is this a cycle that was bound to happen that we all missed somehow or do you think that this is a fluke caused by the economy and we will return to the mass production age as soon as things pick up?

I for one, certainly hope that is not the case.  There's something quaint about the idea of knowing a pickle maker, a bread maker and a mustard maker -- and thinking about those people as you bite into the most amazing sandwich gives that sandwich additional emotional value. 

Do you know someone making a new career out of specialization that they'd never have had the guts to try if the economic downturn hadn't pushed them to do so?  I'd love to hear actual stories if you can share some!!

Oh the joys of bigamy...

Allow me to introduce you to our latest guilty pleasure...

Guilty Pleasure?  These are my wonderful readers.
Readers? I am simply tickled pink to get the opportunity to introduce you to.......Sister Wives!

If you're not watching this piece of media gold yet, you should be.  Sister Wives is a TLC show that outlines the life of a polygamist family living in Utah.  Up close and personal you get to watch as the family takes YET ANOTHER WIFE...how the current wives respond and how the family balloons from 17 with a baby on the way to 22 with the addition of the FOURTH wife and her 3 kids.


The really interesting thing?  HOW does this man do it.  I swear, he walks around like he's got unicorns in his brain and he farts rainbows.  He's so happy and so devoted to his family.  When you watch the group interviews, he is so interested and in-tune to what each of his wives are saying, it's ridiculous. He loves his babies, they love each other -- it's a big ol' love fest in Utah.   I mean, sure he gets a lot of lovin' with all those wives, but sheeze, think of the stresses he faces supporting this huge network of peoples and those peoples needs and wants! 

Plus, it's a sneak peak into a lifestyle that I've only seen portrayed in HBO's Big Love and who the heck knows how accurate that is?  Well really, how accurate is reality TV - but shush your naysayin' mouth and think about the REAL questions....how do they afford this lifestyle much less toilet paper for that many bottoms?! (he drives a Lexus and works in advertising)

Just watch.  We'll discuss after.

For now I'll leave you with this photo of some the Brown babies (remember there are more than shown):

My favorite baby is the one that's making a break for it towards the tires in the upper right!  I bet he just wanted some alone time!


Now - your homework for the week is to watch this show and report back on which wife is your favorite.


I'm gunning for Janelle, sure she's let herself go a bit, but she's a doer and a worker bee.  God bless her for having the sense to get out of a house full of 17 kids for a few hours a day.

Ta ta for now.  Love y'all bunches.

Big dork update:  I just found this article while stalking the Brown's further - a nice lil' nod for my brainy/worker bee Janelle, but what's all this about a court case for bigamy AND Meri (first wife) apparently lost her job once the show aired. Do you think such a punishment is deserved or is it discrimination??? DumDumDaaaaaaaa!!!!

Dolla, Dolla Bills, Yo!

 Money.  It shouldn't matter, but it does.  It's also one of the most popular reasons couples fight.

Seriously, I can see why.  Nothing is more stressful than not having enough money, not knowing if you have enough money and then compounding those concerns with someone else's spending habits and fiscal woes.

Luckily, I'm totally OCD and had an iron fist on my finances before Ox and I got together.  Ha. Iron fist, my bottom.  But at least I was tracking my budget pretty steadily and had implemented a hard-core get out of debt plan.

I started the whole get out of debt plan back when I lived in Nashville and listened to a lot of Dave Ramsey.  This guy's intense and brilliant.  Take sometime, listen to just ONE of his broadcasts - you'll be forever changed.  Also, his site has some fun tools to get you started on a budget.

So, I had this crazy little spreadsheet and this crazy little budget, but what do you do when you suddenly have a plus-one to work into all this!? 

Ox and I decided to take the matter by the horns.  We got a joint-account from which we pay all joint bills -- this includes utilities, rent, joint-fun, food, etc.  All the rest of our spending is done from our personal accounts.  This has helped tremendously.  But, the whole joint account situation only works if both people respect the use of the account.  To assist us in that matter, I decided that it was time for a Joint Budget Spreadsheet in addition to my personal spreadsheet.

So, I built a sheet that tracks our budget for the joint account in Google Documents - so we can access it at work or home!  It lists all our expenses, the amount budgeted for each, how much each of us owe for each, then most importantly - how much we've deposited toward each line item.  That's right folks, I allocate our deposits to specific expenses when they go in.

Then I built a sort of check register that connects into the budget part of our spreadsheet.  When we enter certain line items the cells change color - making them easy to enter into the budget part as credits or debits. As a whole we track total spent, total deposited (both items by whom) and then the variance to original budget on a month to month basis (so we can adjust accordingly).

It's all a bit complex to write out, but I must say being able to look and see, "I need to deposit $100 into our joint account to cover laundry, fun and phone bill still," when contemplating a less than needed purchase is pretty effective in the curbing of the spending.

So, make a plan.  Stick to the plan.  You don't have to totally geek out like me and spend years building a personal spreadsheet.  Google some budget tools, take a look at where you're at and what you both need to do and you'll save yourself fighting over something that is always going to be a pressure.  Then instead you can relax and focus on fighting to make your relationship more fun!!

Paul the Conductor

Paul the conductor on my morning train likes black coffee, with 2 sugars.  He also has a wife, daughter and a brand new hermit crab he calls "Hermie." Paul's daughter has a guinea pig named "Meatball" but he calls him GP for short.

Paul is a character in my life.  Much like Sesame Street - my life has characters, bet yours does too.  These are the people that you don't realize are important in your life because you have a surface relationship based on something else...nonetheless consider the fact that if you were making puppets of your day-to-day life - would the people you waste a lot of time on be the puppets, or would you have more people/puppets like Paul the conductor?

Take time to think about these people and take time to make relationships happen, not where you expect them - but wherever you are.

Ps. My sister is coming to visit from the Midwest this afternoon and I'm just so excited I might burst into sprinkles.

Pss. My new most favorite hobby is vacuuming in a dimly lit room with the vaccum light on.  It's like you're sneaking up on the dust bunnies... (weird, right?)

Lovely Lady Leaf Peepin'

I had the pleasure of going on a little leaf peepin' excursion this weekend. 

For those of you not privy to that term - as I was not until recently - it means going out in the great out of doors and ogling nature as it changes outfits.

A good friend and I made the great escape from the city to the Albany, NY area.  While in the area we visited Thatcher State Park and hiked the Indian Ladder Trail where we went and visited a few waterfalls and watched as nature reminded us it was amazing.

We had a blissful time wandering throughout the park, huntin' toads and spelunking.  The sky was clear, the day was warm and the picnic was perfection.

But what struck me the very most about my trip was not so much the awe-inspiring beauty around me...but the beauty inside my fellow travelers.  I'm not sure if you've ever experienced this...but without planning...without even a thought of effort - the most perfect social, ladies get-together weekend emerged out of this adventure.  I found myself surrounded by ladies that each inspired me in their own way.  Everyone was full of fun conversation, interesting views and eye-opening opinions.

We spent the drive home in near silence.  Listening to new music provided by our lovely host and pondering what it was that made us happy.  It was honestly one of the most moving weekends I've had the joy of experiencing in a long time.

You see, I'm a planner.  I have excel spreadsheets that are color coded, I make lists of lists.  This whole just not planning and barely even packing thing was totally not my usual way of going on a trip.  But, in doing so I ended up with the exact soul nourishment I didn't even know I was longing for.

So, my suggestion to you is this - take surprise trip, don't plan, just go.

Flow might just have the best trip you've ever had planned for you.

HungryHungryHippo

Once I had this roommate walk in on me shoveling cold, left-over Chinese food into my face you'd have thought my last meal was at birth - at which point I got the nickname HungryHungryHippo.  Seriously, he even made a song about it to the tune of Hungry Like the Wolf.  Excellent roommate.

Moving along.

I like to snack.  Eating gives me joy.  The act of food rollin' around in my mouth making love to my tastebuds - that's it for me. Alas, I also like being fit.

Shenanigans!  Why do my likes have to cancel each other out!?  Health?! Sheeeeshe.  In any case, since I've joined my new gym -- whatup Koko Fit Club -- I've been eating like I was growing several other me's in my belly and those me's had tapeworms.

But I mean when you're lifting 30,344 lbs of weight..you get hungry!  That's right folks, I've lifted over 30k in weights since joining my gym.  That seems insane to me, especially since well, I'm not that hardcore.





Check this little screen out?  This stuff is neat!  This is the data my gym tracks on me so I know what weights to lift next week, how much I've improved and how I rank compared to other members!!  The data dork inside of me loves this stuff.

Anyway, I was just blogging to kill time until I got to eat lunch and well, mission accomplished.

All Hail The Humble Marshmallow

It's October, which means it's genuinely fall and that the holidays are nearly upon us.  Which made me remember a story from last fall around this time that I'd like to share with you.  A story so exciting, that Readymade featured it and even illustrated it!  (Okay, so I got a 2 line tip, but the illustration got a full page!!) 

Back before I was a happily cohabitating lady, I lived with 2 other single ladies.

My roommate A was lucky enough to procure a turkey from her work as a holiday gift.  Not knowing how to prepare said avian, she defaulted to hosting a Turkey Day at our house and asked that I help her prepare it.

Preparations began Friday night when I decided I wanted to do a "traditional gravy."  This required some giblet stock...so I set forth to remove the iron-rich goodies from the bird and let them simmer with other goodness for several hours.  Much to the chagrin of my roommates ... squeals of "EWW!" and "THAT'S SO GROSS" could be heard through out the house as I manhandled the neck bone.

I also decided since I'd opened up the bird - that a brine might do good.  I had decided to put herb-butter under the skin of the bird for day of cooking, but thought as an off-set to that a sweet/spicy brine might be just the trick.  So, in went cloves, cinnamon along with the salt and veggie broth.  The kitchen filled the air with odors that one might confuse with an apple pie mixed with boiled kidneys. 

With the preparations done I bagged the bird in its new liquid home and went about my merry way.

Saturday came and went without much of a hitch, or much of a purpose.  I delighted in my sloth-like behavior.  Only jazzing up the routine in the evening when everyone in the house watched movies together and I made steaks for Ox and I.  My rare once a week beef treat...moooooo!

Sunday we awoke to a new sight!  About 2 inches of snow had fallen over night and the world was a winter wonderland...  The neighborhood children were dashing about in mad delight as parents posed them by trees in their winter-gear for Christmas photos.  By the time I was up and about, most of the snow had begun to disappear, but there were traces left dotting the trees.

I sat down with a breakfast sandwich (ham, egg and cheese on wheat) to hear a loud CRASH come from the kitchen.  As soon as I heard the loud racket, I knew what had happened.  You see, we keep a variety of items on top of our fridge...with each slam of the fridge door these items migrate slowly further and further towards the back of the fridge...we'd had our first causality.  I continued munching on my sandwich, afterall no one wants to clean on an empty tummy.

It was quite a sight to behold...the graveyard I found once we pulled the fridge from it's hiding spot.  We'd had 3 bottles fall victim to the great cavern at the back of the fridge...however only one such bottle had lost it's little life in the fall.  A lone bottle of Agave Syrup lay at the bottom of the heap...surrounded by it's innards.  Sticky innards at that! 

I proceeded to wedge myself behind the fridge (after making all involved put shoes on!).  Warm wash clothes were passed back to me as I began the clean up.  Glass was everywhere...encased in a molasses type tomb.  Soon all was cleaned up.

Feeling proud for doing such a household chore, I pushed the fridge back with a satisfied sigh.  Only to turn around and see that the wash clothes had been rinsed out in the sink and my stomach fell.  You see we were quite lucky at our bachelorette pad, we had a garbage disposal in our one basin sink.  It was quite handy.  Except when small shards of glass are a part of the yuckiness that is swirling the drain...as you see...garbage disposals and glass aren't exactly friends.  In fact, one might venture to say that they might even be considered enemies.  The garbage disposal was stuck, it wouldn't run...and how were we going to get the glass out?!

I proceeded to try to fish out each tiny shard of glass with a pair of tongs...this fun went on for about 15 minutes.  When I realized my folly...this wasn't working.  It was like a blind crane game...and I was losing.  What to do?!  It was Sunday!  It was the day of the TURKEY!!!  I couldn't proceed with preparations with a non-functioning sink!  Whatever will we do!!!

Then I recalled a device I had used out of the garage as a child...it was a magnet on the end of a stick.  Stuff falls in an engine, you can't get it - stick the magic stick in and volia!  But glass isn't magnetic...I needed something sticky that I could get the glass to embed in.  I considered potatoes -- but wasn't preparing those, so had none to speak of.  Then I began to ransack my cupboard.  Surely, surely I had something!!  Then, my hand landed on mecca, the golden ticket, the answer to my problems ---  MARSHMALLOWS!!! 

I received a few raised eyebrows as I removed the small puffs of sugar and began slowly and surely smoshing them about in the garbage disposal.  After a few smooshes I raised the 'shmallow to the light, wondering if I'd done any good and there they were - tiny shards of glass - embedded in the lovely puffs and my hands were safe.  I went wild!  I'd done it!  After about a dozen or so marshmallows fell to the task of the smooshing.  I decided to give it a go and amazingly enough - the wedged glass had been freed and the garbage disposal was clear!! I'd saved Turkey Day --- well marshmallows had - they were the heros of the day!!! 

The turkey went in the oven without a hitch.  Gravy was perfect.  The sides arrived on time and everyone had a fantastic too full turkey day!  We even went and got our first Christmas tree for the house and decorated it last night.  All thanks to our friend, the marshmallow.

So, the moral of the story is Marshmellows rock! :)