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! :)

Hop, Skip, Jump...

Hello there...

There was this interesting article put up by NPR on Friday I'd been meaning to read all weekend.  I finally got around to it this rainy, dreary morning.

The article basically talked about the idea that we so often see patterns in life that we begin to miss the nuisances for the bigger story arcs and in such make time go much faster; thus aging us.

The story suggests getting out of your comfort zone and trying new things in order to widen your range of experiences in order to elongate your life. 

I like the idea of changing it up.

This morning I was rushed and out the door about 5 minutes late, making me closer to my train departure time.  I was a bit anxious so I was glad when the Next Train Sign was flashing 17 minutes upon my arrival.  Awesome, time to stare at the trees turning color as the day was beginning to break ever so slightly from the holds of night.

However, 10 minutes later when it was still flashing 17 minutes, I was less impressed.

Then everyone say the sign change to Next Train Late.

Boo.  Hissssss.

So, I decided to drive to work.

Interestingly enough.  These 2 train goers stand with 2 other train goers every single morning and make awkward small talk.  This morning, the morning of the delay 2 of the train goers just stalked off and didn't say why they were leaving only to not offer the 2 people they talk to daily any group oriented solutions - odd as these people obviously enjoy the perks of public transportation why not go more small scale?  Rude much? 

So, I took 2 of my fellow train goers to a train station near my work then continued into the town next to my office.  Both ladies had been with their employers for 25 years.  I've been with mine for 2 and I'm starting to get the itch (even though I simply adore it - there are other factors at play...annnywhoo).  It was interesting to me how these ladies routines were set, set for 25 years.  Think of how strong their story arches are - how fast their days go.


After I figured my way back to the route I knew - aka I got wicked lost - (but I totally get points for a new adventure and change from normal 'arch'), I parked on a street I still happen to have a parking sticker for (yay for old tax dollars at work).  Then I hiked in the rain the mile to my office...I made sure to hop in a few puddles along my way and gaze at the people rowing boats along the Charles River...sigh, perfection.

The rain in my face made for a rude awakening to the morning, but a pleasantly rude one.  I liked the exercise and the new company on the way to work was also interesting.


Variety.  It might not just be the spice of life, but the key to youth too.  Here's some ideas on shaking your comfort zone that are a bit less extreme than what the article offers, forty-three ways to be exact.

No go rock out and enjoy every minute of today!