The Lumberjack's Wife

My Favorite Things.... of 2009

2009-12-18T12:00:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas time, and so I'd like to give you a gift. Cuz Christmas isn't all about receiving, you know. So, here goes, my favorite things of 2009:

10. Hunt for the Worst Movie of all time. Every Monday, Gabe posts a new review of a movie that has been suggested to be the worst ever. His reviews are witty, hysterical and brutally honest. Even better? I think I've seen most of the movies he reviews...

9. My favorite San Diego bar/restaurant. It's funky and different, and I have yet to be disappointed by a dish or drink.

8. Etsy. This site is fantastic if you like one-of-a-kind pieces. I love the jewelry and bags, but they also have great men's items like cufflinks, ties, etc.

7. My very own tomato sauce recipe. I use this for Chicken Parmesan, Sausage Pasta, etc. It's the perfect blend of tomato and spices.

(Ingredients:
1 large can crushed tomatoes
1 shallot
3 cloves garlic
1 tsp. Italian herbs
1 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 tsp. bay leaves
Chop garlic and shallot. Saute in olive oil. Add crushed tomatoes and spices, keep on low heat until served.)

6. This song, by Wakey!Wakey! Click on and listen to the track titled "Brooklyn." It's gorgeous.

5. My favorite Chocolate Cake recipe. I get asked for this recipe every time I make it. Even my mother-in-law was impressed by it and asked me for it!

(Ingredients:
1 box devil’s food cake mix
1 small box Jello instant chocolate pudding mix—not the sugar or fat free kind
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 cups mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a VERY large bowl (4 qt), mix together everything except chocolate chips. Batter will be thick. Stir in the chocolate chips. Pour batter into cake pan of choice. For cooking time, I use the cooking times on the back of the devil’s food cake box as a guide and usually add 10 minutes to whatever it says. Then I do the toothpick check, and if it’s not done, I check on it every 5 minutes after that. :) It usually takes around 45 minutes for two, 9-inch pie pans.
I use the frosting recipe on the powdered sugar box to top off this baby. You can't go wrong.)

4. Owl City's "Ocean Eyes" CD. Every song on this album is good. I think I've listed to it 50 times already.

3. My favorite bottle of wine. If you're a red wine fan, you should try this. Ramey Wine Cellars produces an amazing claret, and it so happens to be my favorite wine. The 2005 is all gone, but the 2006 is supposed to be excellent as well.

2. The Pioneer Woman. She is my blogging and culinary inspiration. I wish I had her dedication and photo talents, so instead I follow her blog, and you should too.

1. Mylifeisaverage.com. You will thank me for this one. It's like FML, but for people with a sense of humor. It updates frequently and always gives me a good laugh.

So that's it. Ten of my favorite things that I've discovered this year. Merry Christmas to all!

Wear Sunscreen

2009-11-25T16:35:00.000-08:00

My parting gift to you, over the Thanksgiving holiday.

This piece was presented as Kurt Vonnegut's commencement address at MIT in 1997. It's great stuff, but apparently it wasn't written or delivered by Vonnegut. It's still a beautiful piece...

Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '97:

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary.

Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

A Review: The Twilight Series

2009-11-17T13:55:00.000-08:00

I just finished, well, started and finished, the Twilight series over the weekend. I've been sick, so I've had some extra time on my hands.

As a literature minor, I'd been curious about the books I'd heard were "well written." I wanted to read them to see what the big deal was.

Starting the books, I was initially annoyed. The melodramatic character of Bella Swan is a whiny (irritatingly so), obsessive, dark, misunderstood misfit, or so she feels. But, as I continued the first book, I got attached to its brilliance. Stephanie Meyer captures the emotions, passion, fear and romance for her primary audience of romantically inexperienced preteen and teenage girls. She creates an overwhelming dichotomy of passionate love and perfect friendship with the characters of Edward Cullen and Jacob Black.

In the end, I would never call the series a literary masterpiece. However, its brilliance to entrap the hearts of girls everywhere is undeniable. Even as I was reading it, I felt myself believing in what Edward and Bella have, despite knowing how unrealistic their relationship is, outside of the whole vampire thing.

Deep down, every girl wants an "Edward"--a man who is incredibly passionate, who believes and shares with her that he would die without her. She wants a love relationship where the spark never dies, where every kiss is more intense than the last and where the chemistry tears through her insides. And, she wants a man who longs for her to be with him at all times, who misses her intensely when they are apart, who protects her in every situation and who knows without a doubt that she is his soulmate.

And then, there's real life. Real life--where sparks die, kissing becomes habitual and the chemistry fades. But, for Meyer's primary audience, real life and love are unknown. And that is why Meyer is brilliant in her writing. She takes something that is unknown (love) and unrealistic (vampires) and meshes them in a way that, because the love part seems like it could be the realistic, the vampire part doesn't seem so far off. Obviously, few people actually believe in vampires, but Meyer's story leaves the love part wide open. Over the four books, the love between Edward and Bella is unstoppable, compared to Romeo and Juliet (New Moon) and Catherine and Heathcliff from "Wuthering Heights" (Eclipse), and undeniably deep.

However, the relationship between Edward and Bella is potentially dangerous to young minds as it gives women the idea that the Edward/Bella relationship is real. Even as I was reading the book, I felt a longing for something like that...something I know does not exist. And, as I have the knowledge and experience to know that my marriage is incredibly deep and encompasses more of the aforementioned passions than many, it is a little frightening to think of the expectations that a young, romantically inexperienced woman may pull from this series.

And that is why this series is irresistible. The action is never-ending, giving the books an urgency. The love story is timeless, capturing the hearts and minds of its female readers. And, though Breaking Dawn does fall a little short in comparison to the first three books, the final book is destined to be the lesser as Bella's transformation from vampire to human will ultimately be tragic unless it is even more far fetched. Then again, we are talking about vampires...

Overall, I'd give the series a "read." After doubting it for months, it surprised and pleased me far more than I'd expected.

When It Rains

2009-11-11T09:35:00.000-08:00

You know that saying, "when it rains, it pours"?

Monday night, I found out that the dog I grew up with is not doing so well. My mom didn't think he'd make it through the night. I cried. A lot.

First thing Tuesday morning, my car nearly gets hit while backing out of my parking spot because some idiot was flying through the parking lot. She had the audacity to honk at ME and make me pull back into the spot so she could continue speeding by. Thank God I didn't get hit!

Tuesday afternoon, I deal with a pain-in-the-butt coworker who I simply can't handle. One of those argue-for-the-sake-of-it people trying to give me more work and make my life harder. Because, you know, it's not like I have a 600-page book to publish in three weeks, or anything. Gah.

Oh, and my boss scolded me for talking to a coworker, in front of my entire floor. Super.

Tuesday evening, I found out my childhood dog is being put down Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m. In my distraught state, I put a thermos of coffee in my purse. When I put my purse down, the cup spills over, filling my Coach bag and drowning my iPhone.

Today, my father-in-law is going in for tests as he has been rediagnosed with cancer. We are praying the xrays show it is not lung or bone. Although we're all trying not to worry, it's a little overwhelming since we know it could be serious.

It's not that I want a pity party; I just want this week to be over so I can spend the weekend in bed recovering. I know that God says he won't give us more than we can handle, and I know I can handle this (other than it putting me in a bad mood), but does it have to be everything at once?

Tuesday Ten: The Lumberjack

2009-11-10T11:53:00.001-08:00

1. He is the most well-rounded person I know. On Wednesday night, he's usually watching Ultimate Fighter, and by Friday, he'll be taking me out to a five-star restaurant and the theater! He's a man's man with a sweet center--the perfect combination.

2. While his favorite breed of dog is a German Shepard, he absolutely LOVES our little corgi. I've never seen him be such a softie as he is with that dog.

3. His favorite band OF.ALL.TIME. is Metallica. I'm pretty sure he owns every CD, and listens to them all regularly.

4. He is almost 100% Dutch, and proud of it. His favorite cheese is smoked gouda (big surprise), and he loves hopjes, Dutch licorice and all other sorts of Dutch delicacies.

5. His favorite cake is cinnamon pull-apart (monkey bread) and his favorite dessert is creme brulee.

6. His hair is naturally and permanently bleached with a faint "C" on the back of his head. I tease that's God's sign of claiming him for me.

7. He loves beer. Stone is his favorite. But he also loves bourbon and cigars. At heart, he's kind of an old man, and I love it.

8. His favorite sport is football, by far. He supports the San Diego Chargers until the end. I get a little nervous every time we watch football together because he's so passionate about it.

9. He has expensive taste. With clothing, and food, and just about everything. Awesome, because I never have to explain why a $100 pair of black heels is better than a $10 pair.

10. One of the first things that stood out to me about him was that he is passionate. He doesn't half-ass things, ever. If he does something, he believes in it and is passionate about it, and I love that about him.

Tuesday Ten

2009-10-27T09:06:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to get better about posting everyday. In doing so, I'm starting "Tuesday Ten," in which I will post 10 random facts about me, someone I love, or just something random, every Tuesday.

Here it goes...

1. I have cooked dinner every night since the Lumberjack and I got married (unless we've eaten out). I don't really believe in microwave meals. That's not to say I make a five-course dinner every single night, but I'd like to think I am a decent cook.

2. I prefer staying in to going out--even better, I love having friends over for dinner rather than going out to eat. My mom raised me to be a hostess, not a restaurant patron.

3. I am a control freak. I'd usually prefer to make plans than just see where I end up. I also prefer to be the driver, rather than be driven.

4. I have strange techniques, with reasons, for just about everything. For example, when I eat Pizza Hut pizza, I eat the first piece normal and the second piece crust first, because the front of the pizza is the best and I want to save it for my last bite.

5. Every year, for as long as I can remember, I have a chocolate cake with vanilla icing (has to be homemade) for my birthday.

6. My favorite stores are Nordstrom Rack and Homegoods. I love Nordstrom, but I'm a frugal shopper, so I leave the deals and brands at the Rack. Homegoods is my little houseware heaven. I could spend all day (and lots of money) in both stores!

7. My favorite holiday/season is Christmas. I'm ready for Christmas trees, lights, music, food and decorations by September 1. I don't really care for Halloween, and it's not that I don't enjoy Thanksgiving, but I like Christmas so much more!

8. I've never attended a public school. I've attended Episcopalian, Non-denominational Christian, Catholic and Nazarene schools, but I've never had any public school education.

9. My favorite San Diego restaurant and bar is "The Tractor Room" in Hillcrest. They make the best martinis, and their homemade chips are to die for!

10. I've never eaten a Big Mac. I've just never had any desire to, and In-N-Out is so much better than McDonald's. I've also never eaten meatloaf, mostly because my mother never served it and, since I don't know that I'd like it, it's not a dish I would order in a restaurant.

So, there you are, 10 new things you (maybe) never knew about me!

Dutch: On "The Daily Corgi"

2009-10-27T08:57:00.000-07:00

My little furkid, Dutch, is featured on "The Daily Corgi" today. Check him out at:

http://thedailycorgi.blogspot.com/2009/10/dutch.html

A Review of Las Vegas: Rosemary's

2009-10-25T14:24:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, the Lumberjack and I celebrated his birthday by taking a trip to Las Vegas. We drove out Friday morning, spent the afternoon relaxing by the pool, and enjoyed a perfect meal at Rosemary's, a quaint restaurant located about 20 minutes from the strip.

When you enter the restaurant, you step into a world that is beyond the simple strip mall you entered. The scenery is romantic and classy. A bar on the right boasts top shelf liquors, along with a few specialty beers on tap. A cocktail before dinner is the perfect start to the evening, and I suggest any beer lover enjoy a pint of the Tripel Karmelite.

The dining room reveals comfort and luxury paired with exquisite service. Rosemary's offers all dishes a la carte, or you can enjoy their prix-fixe dinner, containing three courses, for $55. Everyone in our party of four opted for the prix-fixe dinner as most entrees were priced between $30 and $45, so it seemed to be the best deal.

For my appetizer, I chose the Tasso Ham and Crawfish Risotto with Smoked Tomato Jus. The dish was moist but not mushy, with a subtle smokiness from the tomato jus and the perfect amount of salt from the tasso ham. The crawfish was perfectly cooked and decadent--not fishy. I also sampled the Salmon Tartar, which was very fresh and perfectly seasoned. The Twice Baked Parmesean Souffle and the Panko Crusted Crab Boulettes were both rich, indulgent dishes best for sharing. Overall, the consensus was that the risotto was the favorite appetizer of the night.

For the salad course, the Arugula, Endive & Radiccio Salad came with Maytag Blue Cheese, a Riesling Poached Pear, Toasted Hazelnuts & Port Wine Syrup. The pepper in the arugula complimented the tart blue cheese and the sweet poached pear for a perfect combination of flavors. The Caesar for Mark salad came with Parmesean croutons and a fresh Caeser dressing with anchovies. While some of the diners at my table found it to be too fishy, I thought the dressing was exceedingly fresh and a perfect combination. The croutons, while tasty, were too large to be eaten in one bite, and therefore a challenge.

For the entree, I chose the Seared Sea Scallops with Parsnip Potato Puree, Apple Cider Beurre Blanc, Crispy Prosciutto & Fried Parsnip Strips. When I dine out, I often try to stay away from beef, even though I love it, because I am usually disappointed after being spoiled with the Lumberjack's cooking. The scallops were the right choice. They were perfectly cooked--tender on the inside with a slight crisp on the outside--and the parsnip potatoes were rich and creamy. However, I also sampled the Grilled Veal Tenderloin, served with a Sauté of Asparagus, Prosciutto & Maitake Mushrooms & Roasted Garlic Reduction Sauce. The veal was tender and succulent, cooked to perfection and complemented with the reduction sauce. Though not a traditional steakhouse, Rosemary's Roasted Filet of Beef stood up to the rest of the menu after being seasoned and cooked perfectly with a bourbon green peppercorn sauce, and complemented with horseradish souffle potatoes.

For dessert, I enjoyed the chef's special of the night--a Passion fruit cheesecake with pomegranate sauce. I also sampled a platter of miniature desserts, including a lemon bar, peanut butter crisp, and mint chocolate fudge. All were delicious, and the perfect cap to an excellent meal.

In addition to the fabulous food, the service was wonderful. The sommelier was attentive and helpful, as was our waitress. The waitstaff presented each course in sync, serving each dish at the same time and allowing ample time in between courses. Water and wine glasses were kept full, napkins placed gently on laps and every other need met graciously.

Overall, Rosemary's provided one of the most exquisite meals I have ever enjoyed, and it is a Las Vegas restaurant not to be missed.

Five years ago

2009-10-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

Five years ago today, I went on a date with a boy I had become friends with. After his persistence to date me, I asked him to go to a movie with me. Little did I know it would be my last first date.

We went to Pizzeria Uno in the Fashion Valley Mall in San Diego. We split a deep-dish pepperoni, with mushrooms on half--the same toppings we still order today. He ordered a beer, non-alcoholic because neither of us were 21. He paid, he now admits, "just in case it was a date."

We walked to the theater, purchased two tickets to "Shark Tale" and walked around the theater while we waited for our movie to start. We talked about our likes and dislikes, our classes, our friends and our families. At one point, he told me he had a brother who was the same age as my younger sister, and I said it would be fun to go on a double date with them sometime. And he asked, "So, is this a date?" I laughed because, of course, it was. We walked hand in hand back to the theater, and he put his arm around me while we watched the movie. He was a perfect gentleman, and even asked if he could kiss me when the night was over. (He would tell you now, just for the record, I said he had to wait until our second date. And I would tell you now that I should have let him kiss me then.)

On our first date, I had no idea that I would spend the rest of my life with him. Compared to now, I knew so little about him. I didn't know that his favorite band is Metallica, or that he loved watches, or that he'd be so kind a gentle despite his manly exterior. I didn't know he'd graduate cum laude, or that he'd be so well-rounded, or that he'd be the best friend I'd ever had. And, it's amazing that compared to what I'm sure I'll know about him in 10 or even 20 years, I know so little now.

What I do know is that first date was the first day of the rest of my life with the man of my dreams, and when I wake up to that sweet face each morning, I know I am a blessed woman.

Happy five years, my love.

Fragility

2009-10-21T14:16:00.001-07:00

I started a post on our wonderful trip to Vegas that I was going to post today, but I'll have to post tomorrow.

Last night, the Lumberjack and I found out that his dad has prostate cancer, for the second time. The first time, the Lumberjack and I had been together for about a year. I remember finding out, crying with my man and praying his father's recovery would come smoothly and quickly. And it did. After a prostate removal surgery, his cancer was gone.

This time around, cancer treatment means radiation. There is no prostate to be removed, but somehow he has prostate cancer? We are praying for a speedy recovery and healing and that the radiation banishes all forms of cancer from his body.

I don't know much else at the moment, other than life is fragile and precious. Please keep my father-in-law and our family in your prayers.

Changes: "Adult" Furniture

2009-10-18T14:25:00.000-07:00

When the Lumberjack and I got married, we moved into our first apartment, which we still live in. When we moved, we blended together a mash of mixed hand-me-downs....a white Ikea computer desk, 30-year-old hardwood coffee table, a decades-old Crate & Barrel taupe love seat, an Ikea futon, a white printer table, a cute white-spray-painted-black sofa table, a gingham red ottoman, etc. All of the pieces were functional and perfect for us at the time--FREE!

Well, after almost a year and a half, the Lumberjack and I decided it might finally be time to get some real grown up furniture. We loved the things we had been given, but the truth is that none of it was "our" style.

The timing happened to be perfect, as my younger sister was moving into her new place and happened to be needing everything we were getting rid of. Don't you just love hand-me-downs?

After a few nights of furniture shopping, the Lumberjack and I finally found the perfect furniture, and in our price range. We ended up purchasing a black leather sofa, matching wood- and-glass coffee and end tables, a black corner desk, and a headboard-foot board bed set for our room.

Of course, projects like that never end there--only start. We figured, if all of the furniture is going to be moved out, we should get the carpets cleaned. But, before we get the carpets cleaned, we should fix up the paint in the living room. And, if we're going to paint the living room and get a new bed in the bedroom, we might as well paint the bedroom too.

And of course, if we're getting a new bed in black wood, now our black comforter is going to look overwhelming, so we'll order a white down comforter. And the brown Tommy-Bahama-esque lamps no longer match, so we'll need new lamps too.

See what happens?

I ended up with a crisp white duvet to cover my overstuffed down comforter, along with new bedroom and living room lamps.

It was all worth it when my furniture was delivered. Now, seeing the house all set up, designed how we like, painted how we like and with furniture that we like, all of the hard work and late nights were totally worth it.

(I wish I had before pictures, but at least here you can see the amazing bed headboard and foot board we got.)

Love it!

"Friend"

2009-09-29T09:24:00.000-07:00

Webster's dictionary defines a "friend" as "one attached to another by affection or esteem" or "a favored companion."

Is that it?

To me, a friend should support. She should tell me when I'm being stupid, and not be afraid to argue with me. She should be there for me to call when I've had an argument with someone. She should tell me when she thinks I'm making a bad decision, and trust that her opinion won't be a friendship-ruiner. She should be honest--always.

I can count on one hand the people in my life that live up to the description above. They are people who have laughed with me, cried with me and fought with me. They are people who have shared my deepest sadness and my most amazing joys. They are friends that I know will be there until the end, because they've been there from the beginning.

And then, there are friends that I thought would be that for me. But, when the tough times came or they disagreed with something I was doing, they bailed. They were friends of convenience.

Many of my best friends are not convenient.

One, who I've known since I was 8 years old, has never lived closer than 30 minutes from me. For the past six years, we've been five-plus hours away from each other and only see each other a few times a year. But, I still consider her one of my best friends because, when we are together, it's like we've never been apart. I know I can call her whenever, talk to her about anything, and trust her to be honest with me.

Another, who I've known since I was 14, has lived at least a 14-hour drive away from me for the past six years. She now lives in London, and while I know I'll only see her once a year if I'm lucky, we keep in touch through Skype and Facebook--and she is and will continue to be one of my best friends.

To me, being friends with someone shouldn't mean supporting or agreeing with everything they do. It shouldn't mean you need to see or talk to them daily or weekly. But it should mean that you'll be there for them through the good and the bad, and hopefully they'll be there for you too.

So, thanks, to my best friends.

11 Day Diet Review

2009-09-18T09:31:00.000-07:00

I have a confession: I didn't finish the 11-day diet. I tried, really I did. But here's the thing: I have an intolerance to eggs and milk. So the days where eggs was all I could eat for a meal or two, I was sick as a dog. It's not pretty, I promise you.

On day eight, I just couldn't take it anymore.

Maybe if I had finished, I would have lost more, but I did manage to lose one pound per day (8 total) without being hungry all the time. So that's the good news.

The bad news is that apparently I have less willpower than I thought. I love food. And it's not even that I'm overweight, but when I say "I love food," I mean that I adore cooking, baking, basically anything to do with creating or enjoying food. I'm trying to maintain a healthy weight so that my sweet husband doesn't wait up one day and realize the woman he married was half the size of his current wife.

Anyway, all that to say I do recommend the 11-day diet, if you have the willpower!

Seasons: For Baked Potato Soup

2009-09-11T13:44:00.000-07:00

It's 85 degrees in San Diego, as it has been for two weeks, and it makes me want one thing: fall/winter.

I know, something is wrong with me. I'm a California girl, but I truly love fall and winter. Something about the coats (I'm obsessed), the crisp air, and the rare but beautiful orange and red leaves gets to me. Mostly, I love (1) being able to cook soups, bake dishes in my oven and come home to dinner cooking in my crockpot; and (2) being able to decorate for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays....without it being 85 degrees and having to turn on the AC because my cooking has warmed our condo.

I've been driving my Lumberjack crazy. When September 1 came, it was fall in my mind. I started looking at Christmas decorations. I started hoarding soup and baked dessert recipes. I even considered wearing a sweater or two (until I realized I haven't turned off the AC in two weeks because it's been so hot!).

Don't get me wrong, I love summer. I love the long days and not driving home from work in the dark, but I also love weather where I can comfortably wear a sweater and pull a homemade chicken pot pie from the oven without breaking into a sweat.

Unfortunately, I will be driving the Lumberjack crazy for a few more weeks, until it truly is fall. In the mean time, I'm getting my recipe arsenal ready for cooler weather, starting with For the Love of Cooking's Baked Potato Soup.

The 11 Day Diet: Day Four

2009-09-08T09:33:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, the Lumberjack and I started the "11 Day Diet." Actually, it seems to be more of a cleanse/metabolism re-setter, and we're sticking to it so far. Today is day four, and we haven't cheated yet.

Mostly, the diet consists of lean proteins, almost no carbs, and under-10-calorie drinks. We've been eating a lot of deli meats and eggs. And, while I haven't necessarily been hungry, I do find myself wanting certain foods (even those I know I don't love), just because I suddenly can't have them!

The toughest day so far was day 2, which was all fruits except for one sandwich. Surviving on all three meals of fruit during the day is tough! We planned it so that the fruit day would fall on a Sunday, so that we wouldn't be drained while at our jobs. It was tough, but we did it. The good news is we're in the clear until Saturday, which is vegetable day (yuck!).

I had read about this diet online and when Whitney over at The Glamorous Life of a Housewife blogged about her success, I had to try it.

So far, it seems to be working. The Lumberjack and I have both lost between 1 and 1 1/2 pounds per day, so far. The goal is to lose 10 pounds in a week, 15 if we're lucky.

For anyone that's interested, here are the meals and rules:

Day 1
Meal 1: scrambled eggs, low-fat milk
Meal 2: cashews, cottage cheese, banana milk shake
Meal 3: turkey slices, ham slices, fresh grapefruit
Meal 4: walnuts, pastrami slices, garden salad

Day 2
Meals 1,2,3: Fresh fruit only (oranges, pears, apples, grapes, peaches, plums, strawberries, kiwis, grapefruit)
Meal 4: deli meat sandwich (only one)

Day 3
Meal 1: cottage cheese, scrambled eggs
Meal 2: sausage links, regular cheese slices
Meal 3: shrimp, hard boiled eggs
Meal 4: chicken, cashews, bowl of oatmeal

Day 4
Meal 1: pastrami, sausage links
Meal 2: low fat milk, turkey slices
Meal 3: shrimp, regular cheese slices
Meal 4: ham slices, walnuts, frozen yogurt

Day 5
Meal 1: orange pineapple smoothie, apple
Meal 2: cashews, cottage cheese
Meal 3: hard boiled eggs, chicken
Meal 4: scrambled eggs, low-fat milk

Day 6
Meal 1: bowl of green beans, fresh pears
Meal 2: walnuts, pastrami slices
Meal 3: turkey slices, ham slices, bowl of pinto beans
Meal 4: bowl of green vegetables, fruit salad dessert

Day 7
Meal 1: sausage links, regular cheese slices
Meal 2: shrimp, hard boiled eggs
Meal 3: chicken, cashews, bowl of mixed vegetables
Meal 4: cottage cheese, scrambled eggs

Day 8
Today is a day of vegetables and salad only. This means that all 4 meals must consist of only vegetables or salad and nothing else. You’ll be eating 4 meals, but you must choose foods from the list below only:
Lettuce, onions, celery, carrots, pinto beans, sprouts, spinach, broccoli, zucchini, squash, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans
You may top each meal with only ONE of the following 2 items (not both): 1 ounce of grated cheese or 3 teaspoons of low-calorie salad dressing.

Day 9
Meal 1: oranges, banana milk shake
Meal 2: grapefruit, garden salad
Meal 3: low-fat milk, turkey slices
Meal 4: ham slices, walnuts

Day 10
Meal 1: fresh apples, orange pineapple smoothie
Meal 2: cheese slices, shrimp
Meal 3: bowl of oatmeal, frozen yogurt
Meal 4: pastrami, sausage links

Day 11
Meal 1: scrambled eggs, low-fat milk
Meal 2: cashews, cottage cheese
Meal 3: green beans, pears
Meal 4: hard boiled eggs, chicken, bowl of pinto beans

Diet Rules:
1. You may eat your four daily meals in any order.
2. You must eat all four meals on the day they are scheduled. This means you can’t move a meal from day 5 to day 10.
3. Follow the 11 day menu for 11 days, then you may take 3 cheat days where you can eat anything you want for 3 days. After the three day period, you can either follow this menu again or generate a new menu at www.fatloss4idiots.com. The site has a cost , but you can pick and choose your menu based on foods that you like.
4. You must wait at least 2 ½ hours between each meal.
5. You may drink the following beverages: any diet soda, iced tea with lemon, coffee (must have less than 10 calories per glass), water, any low-calorie drink (with less than 10 calories per glass). These drinks may be consumed as often as you like each day, with no limit.
6. You must drink at least 8 – 8 ounce glasses of water per day, and they must be spaced throughout the day.
7. These condiments may be used on any meal: lemon juice, ketchup, barbecue sauce, salsa, salt, pepper, mustard, seasoning salts.
8. There is no limit on portions. You should eat until you feel satisfied but never stuff yourself full.
9. For each meal, you may eat any combination of the foods. You may eat all or just 1 of the foods listed.

Food Explanations:
1. Banana Milkshake - Add the following ingredients in a blender: 1 large frozen banana (cut into chunks), 4-8 oz nonfat milk, 2-3 teaspoons vanilla extract, splenda for sweetener
2. Garden Salad – This means a salad made with vegetables only (potatoes and corn not allowed) – you may have 3 teaspoons of low cal salad dressing (we used that spray dressing).
3. Frozen Yogurt – normal frozen yogurt, the kind that looks like ice cream (no toppings)
4. Oatmeal – instant/flavored oatmeal (no extra sugar)
5. Orange Pineapple Smoothie – Add the following ingredients in a blender: 4-6 oz orange juice, 1 cup of nonfat milk, ½ banana, 4 ice cubes, pineapple chunks, 2 tablespoons vanilla extract, splenda
6. Fruit Salad Dessert – mix the following ingredients: fat free cool whip, your choice of fruit
7. Bowl of Mixed vegetables – no potatoes or corn
8. Deli Meat Sandwich – Make the sandwich from the following ingredients: 2 normal slices of bread, any deli style meat, your choice of allowable condiment, lettuce, tomatoes, onions (optional)

Comforting vs. Fixing

2009-09-03T14:10:00.000-07:00

As a newlywed, I'm still learning things about the Lumberjack, and how men in general think.

Last night was a prime example. I've been frustrated in an area of my life recently and don't have too many options in regards to it. Last night, I let it get the best of me and got upset about the situation. The Lumberjack, being the amazing husband that is he, tried to comfort me in the best way he knew how--by fixing it. And, luckily for both of us, I was rational enough to see it.

While all I wanted was to be told, "It's gonna be OK; you're doing your best," he told me I need to buck up and be happy because I am blessed beyond many other people. So, I didn't get what I wanted. And as he was talking, I could have gotten angry that he wasn't comforting me how I wanted. Instead, I was thankful that he was comforting me the best he knew how.

Like most men, the Lumberjack thinks in terms of fixing things. And instead of getting irritated at him for not doing things "my way," I need to be thankful that he's willing to do something at all. I am, more than anything, a work in progress.

Marrying for money

2009-08-31T13:51:00.001-07:00

I read this in an article today and it made me chuckle:

"Young women, here is some advice:
Don't throw your hot, youthful selves away on young, financially unproven men. They may never become successes, and if they do, they'll probably just chuck you for younger models when you're too old to successfully compete again in the marriage marketplace.
Instead, marry rich guys while you're still taut enough to snag them. They may dump you, too, but at least you'll have nice, fat divorce settlements with which to pursue true love, or the pool guy, whoever comes first.
Notice I didn't say it was good advice.
But that is the gist of a new book, Smart Girls Marry Money: How Women Have Been Duped Into the Romantic Dream -- and How They're Paying for It, by Elizabeth Ford and Daniela Drake."

I like nice things as much as any girl, but is that what our society has come to? I see the benefits of not marrying for lust and taking a more business-motivated approach to marriage, but at the same time, give me a break.

I tell the Lumberjack that I married him for his money. It's in jest, of course. We married when we were both penniless, just out of college and ridden with student loans. But the thing is, it's not about the money, nor should it be.

The Lumberjack and I grew up in different worlds--I with a silver spoon in my mouth, he with a plastic one. And, despite our very different socioeconomic upbringings, we both arrived at the same conclusion: money doesn't buy happiness, nor does it secure a marriage.

Yes, money is nice. Life is "easier" when you don't have to wonder if the rent will get paid this month. But I also know that I married a man who makes wise financial decisions, and even if I never have a million-dollar mansion overlooking the Pacific, we'll be OK. Personally, I'd rather a lifetime in a condo with him than a mansion with someone I don't love.

But, is that common anymore?

A Reflection: Traveling

2009-08-28T10:45:00.000-07:00

Two months after we got engaged, the Lumberjack and I moved to London to study abroad for a semester. It was a life-changing experience. There's something about seeing the world outside of yourself -- outside of your friends, your family, your country, your customs--that gives a real perspective about how finite and insignificant we can be.

For four months, the Lumberjack and I lived in London. It was one of the hardest but most rewarding experiences I'd had up until that point. We had moved to a city where we knew virtually no one, except for a few classmates. There were times that were hard -- we were surrounded by the same 20 students, not only for classes, but living with them. And then there were some amazing times.

We spent evenings after dinner walking to Kensington Park, feeding the swans and marveling that we were thousands of miles away from home--together. We took weekend trips to Dublin, to Cardiff (Wales), to Paris, Venice, Lisse (Holland), and Edinburgh. We traveled to Stratford-Upon-Avon, Castle Combe, Lacock, Stonehenge and Bath (all in England). We spent afternoons exploring the tube lines and getting off whenever we wanted. We wandered Harrods, St. Paul's Cathedral, Picadilly Circus, the Embarcadero, Big Ben, Westminster, Trafalgar Square, the British Museum, The National Gallery, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Shakespeare's Old Globe theater, and so many other places that will forever be photographed in my mind. Afternoon teas and bottles of wine in the park, along with scrumptious Hotel Chocolat treats litter our time in Europe. We saw Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Titus Andronicus, Comedy of Errors, Cymbeline, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Taming the Shrew, The Tempest, Twelfth Night, Othello, Anthony and Cleopatra, Les Miserables, Spam-A-Lot and so many other plays and musicals. We ate the food, drank the drinks, rode the public transportation, studied the culture and absorbed every moment of the culture that we could.

Traveling can either make or break a relationship. Something about having to rely fully on the other person, to be your best and your worst and have no escape, really challenges a relationship to grow or fall apart.

Toward the end of our trip, the Lumberjack and I planned a romantic trip to Venice. That Thursday afternoon, we took the tube to Heathrow airport to catch our flight. When we arrived, we realized EasyJet, with whom we were flying, didn't leave from Heathrow. Instead, I had booked our tickets for Gatwick, an airport on the other side of London. Talk about a challenge!

After purchasing two bus tickets from Heathrow to Gatwick, we arrived in Gatwick to miss our flight by 15 minutes. The next flight out was the following morning, or we could fly to Milan that night and take a train to Venice. The Lumberjack suggested we sleep in the airport and fly out the next morning.

Hah. Those who know me well know sleeping in the airport is never an option for me. Unlike the Lumberjack, I need quiet, darkness, and a horizontal soft space to sleep. So, we booked a room for the night, woke up at 4 a.m., and took a taxi to the airport the following morning. We made it to Venice by 8 a.m., and the delay actually turned out to be a blessing because we never would have found our hotel in the dark the night before.

Hiccups like this teach you a lot about your relationship. While I was freaking out, apologizing and practically crying because I was so upset about leading us to the wrong airport, the Lumberjack was calm, reassuring and not upset at all. Instead of getting mad at me, he held my hand on the bus ride over, gave me hug while we tried to find a hotel at the last minute, and kissed me good night while we stayed in a two-star hotel with a window that wouldn't close all the way (and it was November, in London, and COLD).

In fact, most of our relationship has been like that -- balanced. Whenever one of us is stressed or freaking out about something, the other is calm, and that perfect balance is something I treasure about our relationship. There is something so wonderfully reassuring about finding someone who balances you so entirely that you know you can face anything that comes your way.

That's what travelling did for us and I wouldn't trade those four months--or those memories and experiences--for anything in the world.

Flank Steak and Spicy Garlic Potatoes

2009-08-24T10:15:00.001-07:00

In our home, Sunday night is steak night.

A great cut, which is less expensive than, say, New York strips, is a flank steak. Marinated properly, this cut is tender, juicy, and full of flavor. I generally switch between my favorite two marinades: Italian and Teriyaki.

And they're more simple than they sound. For both, I place the steak in a gallon-size Ziploc. For Italian, I add one to two cups (depending on the size of the steak) of Italian salad dressing into the bag. For Teriyaki, I add one to two cups of Teriyaki sauce. Marinate in the fridge for 6 to 24 hours before grilling.

While the Lumberjack does the grilling, I make the sides. Last night, I made my own recipe of Spicy Garlic Potatoes. Since there's only two of us, I started with 4 baking-sized Russet potatoes. I peeled them, cut them into quarters and added them into a pot of simmering water. Once they were soft, after about 30 minutes, I tosses them into my KitchenAid mixer, along with 1/8 cup of half and half, 1/8 cup of low-fat milk, 2 tablespoons of sour cream, and one stick of butter. For the spicy garlic part, I added in "Kay's Spicy Garlic Seasoning," a mixture she brought back from Big Creek. I suspect it's seasoning salt, cayenne pepper and some garlic power, along with some pepper. I added about 1 1/2 teaspoons of seasoning, mixed well, and served hot. Delish!

I would offer pictures, but it's tough to get a picture of a steak before the Lumberjack has made his move. When there's steak up for grabs, he doesn't wait for cameras and food arranging and blog preparation.

Spicy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients:
4-5 medium Russet potatoes
1/8 cup half and half
1/8 cup milk
1 stick butter
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 1/2 teaspoons of spicy garlic seasoning

Banana Bread: Breakfast OR Dessert

2009-08-19T09:07:00.001-07:00

Last night, when I got home from work, I noticed four over-ripe bananas sitting on top of my fridge. They were much too ripe to eat by themselves, but I knew they'd be just perfect for banana bread.

At my bridal shower, right before the Lumberjack and I got married, I was given a perfect banana bread recipe from a family friend. It's moist, simple, and delicious.

Ingredients

3 to 4 over-ripe bananas

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 egg

1 cup of nuts (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mash bananas in bowl. Mix in remaining ingredients. Bake in two to three mini-loaf pans for 30 to 45 minutes or until a knife comes out clean when you test it.

Serve warm for breakfast by itself.

But, since I made the banana bread after dinner, I was hankering for a little dessert. I served the bread warm, right out of the oven, and topped it with a scoop of slow-churned Butter Pecan ice cream. Since I hadn't added nuts to the banana bread recipe, the nuts in the ice cream were a perfect complement. It was scrumptious. So much, in fact, that may need to have it for dessert again tonight!

Now offering: Custom Invitations/Announcements

2009-08-13T11:16:00.001-07:00

A few years ago, I worked in the most adorable bridal/invitation/paper shop in San Diego. I learned a lot of wedding etiquette and invitation design, along with announcements, menus, place cards and other paper products. Coupled with my design training and experience, I've started designing wedding invitations on my own. It started out being just for friends, and has evolved into more.

Officially, as of September 1, I will be accepting clients for custom event/wedding invitations and announcements. Everything I design, print and assemble is to order. You pick the colors, the styles, and I provide design samples. For more information, for a personal consultation or to schedule a meeting, please leave a comment or contact me at courtney.d.design@gmail.com. Below are some of my favorite samples.

Here is the first wedding invitation I did on my own, outside of the shop:

It was for my dear friends Matt and Jackie, who were married in March 2008. It included a shimmery orange paper as the back layer, with a shimmery yellow and then ivory layers on top. We printed in black and orange.

Some of my favorite invitations include the one I designed for my own wedding. They were 7"x7" pocket-fold invitations. The color I used was a shimmery red paper with linen-textured black and white as the matting and printing pieces. Here is the outside:

And the inside, with a floral vector image, printed in black and red. Included in the pocket are two inserts -- a location card and a response postcard:

One of my other favorite pieces for my own wedding was the "after wedding announcement" because we had a really small wedding and didn't invite everyone we probably should have. (The address is blurred out at the bottom, but it's printed clearly on the actual invite.)

And finally, my good friends Josh and Lisa got married over July 4th weekend this year. We used their engagement photos on one side since they didn't mail out save-the-dates, and matted the photo on a teal blue linen-textured paper.

On the back of their invitation, we printed the details, including their names in a teal blue to match the paper and their wedding Web site to gather more information and RSVP.

All designs are custom. Please note that I do not do letterpress or thermography at this time.

Homemade Pesto Pizza

2009-08-12T11:31:00.001-07:00

The Lumberjack and I have a soft spot for pizza. But, no matter how hard I wish, pizza from Pizza Hut or even the frozen kind is not great for you. Instead, I make homemade pizza so I can control the calories. It's easy, delicious, and completely customizable.

Ingredients

Pizza dough

Fresh Mozzarella

1/2 cup Shredded Mozzarella

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

3 tablespoons Pesto

2-3 whole tomatoes

Directions

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Lightly spray a baking pan with Pam or similar greasing agent.

Slice the tomatoes thin and even so they bake at the same rate. Spread out your pizza dough (I like whole wheat from Trader Joe's) and place it on your baking pan. Spread 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh or store-bought pesto onto the dough. Top with tomato slices. Next, add freshly-sliced mozzarella. I like the kind that comes in water.

Finally, add 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella and 1/4 cup of shredded Parmesan cheese.

Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the pizza crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.

Slice and enjoy!

Blueberry Muffins with Cinnamon Struesel

2009-08-07T10:10:00.000-07:00

Costco is an evil, evil place.

Why? I love fruit, but Costco sells their fruit in packages to feed of family of 12. And between the Lumberjack and I, it's tough to eat 6 pounds of nectarines or 3 pounds of blueberries before they go bad. Luckily, Dutch helps with the nectarines, but I'm not so sure blueberries are good for dogs. And so, I set out to make Blueberry Muffins with Cinnamon Struesel, which I found on "Dishing Up Delights" and is originally from Vanilla Sugar.

Ingredients

Muffin Batter:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

1/3 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Zest of 1 small lemon

1 cup fresh blueberries

Crumb topping:

1/2 cup white sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease muffin cups with Pam (or similar) cooking spray.

In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, salt and baking powder.

In a separate bowl mix vegetable oil, the egg and milk, vanilla extract, and lemon zest.

Incorporate the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.

Do not over mix, the batter will be thick and slightly lumpy.

Fold in blueberries.

Fill muffin cups to the top.

To make the crumb topping by mixing the sugar, flour, butter, and cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until done.

Enjoy warm with a glass of milk. Yum!

Blueberry Muffins with Cinnamon Struesel: A Preview

2009-07-29T09:01:00.000-07:00

Last night, I made Blueberry Muffins with Cinnamon Struesel, courtesy of Dishing Up Delight's blog. But, when I finished making four batches of muffins, I was too tired to load the photos onto my computer and then onto my blog.

So, you're going to have to wait until tomorrow for the recipe and step-by-step photos.

Until then, I leave with you a teaser photo (courtesy of Dishing Up Delight):

Lemon Garlic Salmon with Rosemary Garlic Potatoes

2009-07-28T08:31:00.000-07:00

Let me start out by saying that I have never been a fan of salmon. Never.

But, I'm also an adult and I'm pretty sure that obligates me to try new things.

So, last week, I made Lemon Garlic Salmon with some helpful tips from my co-worker's husband.

And. it. was. amazing.

Seriously, I couldn't get enough of it.

So I made it again, and had to share. My recipe is based on a one-pound piece of fish, big enough for two adults.

Ingredients

Salmon (1/2 pound per person)

A generous sprinkle of Lemon Pepper seasoning

A generous sprinkle of Garlic Salt

3 to 4 cloves fresh garlic

1 large lemon

1 lime

2 tablespoons butter

Directions

Preheat over to 350 degrees. Slice half of the lemon and lime and place on the bottom of your baking dish, so the salmon won't stick. Squeeze the other half of the lemon and lime onto the fish.

Next, generously sprinkle Lemon Pepper seasoning and Garlic Salt on the salmon.

Finally, finely mince the garlic cloves. It helps if you have one of these:

It a Pampered Chef food chopper, and I cannot live without it.

Mince the garlic and sprinkle it onto the fish.

Place the seasoned fish onto the lemon and lime slices.

Add a few pats of butter on top of the fish.

And bake for 15 minutes.

During the last few minutes, set the oven to "Broil" to crisp up the garlic.

The salmon should be an opaque pink all the way through and should flake when you cut into it with a fork.

With the salmon, I like to serve from Rosemary-Herb Bread or another kind of starch.

This time, I made some of my famous (at least to my family) Rosemary Garlic Potatoes.

Ingredients

1 pound of baby potatoes

1 or 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary

A generous sprinkle of garlic salt

A generous pour of olive oil

Directions

The great thing about these potatoes is you can bake them at the same temperature as whatever other dish you're making. Since the salmon is cooking at 350 degrees, so will my potatoes.

Slice the potatoes so they are the same thickness and will cook evenly. You can use a knife if you're skilled, or you can cheat like I do and use this amazing mandolin. Sprinkle a little olive oil on a baking sheet and spread the potatoes on top so they are not overlapping at all. Chop up your rosemary and sprinkle over the potatoes.

Then give the whole dish a generous sprinkling of garlic salt. Bake for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are soft and golden brown. Serve with salmon.

I'd show you a picture of the finished project, but the Lumberjack and I were starving (it was nearly 8 p.m. by the time we ate dinner) and we wolfed it down before I could take one photo. But, I promise, it looks as pretty as it tastes!

My Goal: To Be a Stay-at-Home Mom

2009-07-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

I have a confession to make.

And it might not make everyone happy.

In fact, it may upset people who believe it's a waste of time and a step backwards in the feminist movement.

But here it goes:

As much as I enjoy working and being a career woman, my goal in the long run is to be a stay-at-home mom (SAHM).

There, I said it.

I know, I know: I have a Bachelor's degree and a career. Don't get me wrong, I love both. But when it comes down to it, putting my baby in daycare everyday so I can continue with my career is simply not an option. Like my own mother, I want to be there when my baby says his/her first word or takes his/her first step.

And for that reason, the Lumberjack and I have discussed not starting our family until we can financially afford for me to comfortably stay at home and raise our kids. That point of financial stability may not come for 10 or even 15 years, but it's worth waiting for so that I can accomplish my goal of always being there. (With what I know about my Lumberjack's work ethic, I'd be shocked if it was longer than five years.)

But right now, I feel kind of lost. Being a stay-at-home mom isn't reality now, and until it becomes now, I'm at a standstill. Unlike other goals, there isn't anything I can do to make this goal become a reality any sooner.

Reading Whitney's blog, My Journey Toward the Glamorous Life of a Housewife, inspires me.

I know it will all be worth it one day when I can look into that little face and have the confidence that I will not miss a moment. But until then, all I have is the hope and dream that it will all be worth it.

A Reflection: The Engagement

2009-07-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

It was May 21, 2006. The Lumberjack and I had talked about getting married, we had shopped for a ring, we had even read one of those "101 questions before you get engaged" books. We were spending a wonderful weekend at my parents' home since he was living in San Diego, and I just knew he was going to propose to me that weekend.

But he didn't.

Oh, he asked a question, all right. He asked, "Wanna go out on a date next weekend?"

Well, sure.

He wouldn't tell me where we were going and, after my disappointment from the previous weekend, I didn't want to get my hopes up. (I mean, who I am kidding? I made sure my nails were freshly manicured for two months before he popped the question, just so I'd be ready to show of my new ring the second it was on my perfectly-polished finger.)

I didn't want to get my hopes up but, being the silly girl I am, I pulled a silky white dress out of my closet and borrowed some pearl earrings from my mom. I even bought some cute heels to go with the dress, you know, just in case.

He drove me downtown and took me to Blue Ginger, a swanky Chinese restaurant I had been dying to go to. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was incredibly romantic. The meal ended, and I suggested we go to the beach and watch the sunset. He suggested Shelter Island, a place we'd go to watch the boats on the harbor and be alone.

I agreed. When we arrived, he took me over to the Bali Hai and I had a good feeling it was finally coming. I knew his dad had asked his mom to marry him in the gardens behind the Bali Hai. But he kept walking. Again, I was disappointed but tried not to get my hopes up.

We walked over to a gazebo shaped like a shell that had been built in the grass near the water. We stood in the middle and looked up at the middle of the shell.

And when I looked back at him, he was down on one knee.

I started freaking out. (He later admitted to me he was so excited, he was shaking.)

He told me how he brought me to this spot because we had shared to much time there. He then asked me if I would do him the honor of becoming his wife. "YES, YES, YES!"

We hugged; we kissed; we laughed.

And then he said, "Oh, by the way, my friends Tori and Dave have been over there taking pictures of the whole thing."

WOW.

He knows me well. Not only did he pick out the ring of my dreams, he knew I'd want photos to commemorate the best day of my life, up until that point at least. It was the most romantic day of my life, and everything was absolutely perfect. I didn't even cry until the photographers left.

Looking back at the photos from that day makes me smiles. We were so young, so in love. The great thing about it is, we're still young, and even more in love.

So many people had told me that marriage would change our relationship, and not necessarily in a good way.

I loved the Lumberjack when he proposed to me, but it was a fraction compared to my love for him now.

Everything about that moment was perfect, but it was just one of many more perfect moments together.

Marriage was the best thing that has ever happened to me--to us--but I'll blog about that later.

My favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe EVER

2009-07-20T11:28:00.001-07:00

I have a confession to make.

I make some of the best chocolate chip cookies I've ever eaten.

But secretly, it's just the Ghirardelli recipe.

I've tried dozens of others, and this is my favorite. I've thought of modifying it to make it my own, but why mess with a perfect thing?

The ironic thing is, I never use Ghirardelli chocolate chips. I prefer Toll House semi-sweet.

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients

1 cup butter

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 1/4 cups unsifted flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

11 1/2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

I've made this recipe so many times, I have it memorized.

Here's what you do:

Directions

Heat the oven to 375 degrees.

The Ghirardelli recipe says to mix the flour, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl, but we all know no one does that.

Use softened butter or melt it down until it's soft and then cream with sugar, brown sugar and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time and cream. When it's mixed, dump in 1 cup of flour before adding the baking soda and salt. Mix again, add the rest of the flour and continue until combined. Then, dump in the chocolate chips (I never measure) and mix on "low" if you're a rebel. If you like rules, mix by hand at this point.

Nuts are optional, but no one really thinks chocolate chip cookies are better with nuts. No one.

Roll into balls and bake for 9 to 11 minutes.

And, voila! Enjoy these little babies, because they are so good!

Photo courtesy of ghirardelli.com

High School Reunion

2009-07-16T11:19:00.000-07:00

My five-year high school reunion was last Saturday.

And I didn't go.

Part of the reason is that the people I have wanted to keep in touch with after high school, I have.

The second reason is that I feel like I'm in such a different place and would have absolutely nothing to talk about.

The third reason is that I'm very OK with leaving high school in the past.

The funny thing about high school is, when you're there, you think, "This is it." I remember thinking that high school was the most important time of my life. But it wasn't. Not even close.

A girl I went to high school with commented via Facebook that the reunion would be a lot of "So what are you up to?" "Not much. Just finished college, looking for a job, living with my parents." "Oh sweet, me too." And that's probably true for the most part.

But that's all foreign to me because I graduated, have had a full-time job and my own place for over a year now. I've also been married for over a year and haven't lived in Orange County with my parents since I left five years ago.

It's not that I think I've done better or worse than anyone from my high school, it's that we don't have much in common. And really, what's the point? I don't live there; I'd never go out with any of them; and I have no desire to "brag" about what I've done in the last five years; and I highly doubt many of them even care.

Instead, I'd rather spend time with people from high school that I am still friends with, by choice. I'd rather spend time with Cody, who's been one of my best friends for eight years despite dating, distance and more drama than I care to remember.

Or Kaitlin, who is pretty much my soul mate and best friend for nine-plus years despite drama, deaths, thousands of miles and boys between us. Or a small handful of others who I know will be there for me five, 10, or even 15 years from now.

After looking through the pictures, I am so relieved I didn't go. The truth of it is, parts of high school were great and I will always cherish those memories. But I didn't peak in high school. And, who I am now isn't who I was in high school. And many of the people I was "friends" with in high school aren't my friends now.

Mostly, I love things how they are now and have no need to go try to relive the past.

To me, high school is just the beginning of finding out who you are. And finding out who your true friends are, even if you look silly while doing it.

Senior Cruise with Kaitlin, dressed as saloon girls. Nov. 2003.

Weddings, Fourth of July, etc.

2009-07-09T08:42:00.000-07:00

I know, it's been almost a month since my last post. But, I can explain.

See, first I had about a trillion (that's not an exaggeration) wedding-related events. Being in weddings take up a lot of time, even when they're not your own.

On June 26, the Lumberjack was the best man when our dear friends Drew and Christine got married.

Photo by Jeff and Erin Youngren.

And then, one week later on July 3, I was the matron of honor when our dear friends Lisa and Josh got married.

Then, the day after Lisa and Josh's wedding, the Lumberjack and I spent the weekend in Orange County with our parents for the Fourth of July.

The most exciting part of that was: Dutch learned how to swim!

It's an awful lot of excitement for a corgi puppy, though you can't tell from the picture above. In fact, he looks like he's hating it, but he actually had a pretty good time. See, there he is swimming along. He kind of looks terrified there, too, but he figured out the whole swimming thing pretty quickly.

And, as long as one of us was holding him, he seemed to relax and enjoy the cool water on such a hot day.

He did occasionally look to my mom, who was taking pictures, for help. But, each time he'd swim to the steps and get out of the pool, he walk around and try to get back in. The thing is, he's a baby, so he wasn't brave enough so jump in. Plus, when he does jump/fall in, he sinks. Silly dog.

But he definitely had a fun time swimming. In the photo above, he's swimming to me. Such a good boy!

And his daddy was so proud not to have a wussy dog!

Tomorrow, he will be nine months old, and I can say, despite the mishaps, he has been a perfect addition to our little family. We love that little corgi!

Oreo Truffles

2009-06-19T09:25:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, I am throwing a killer bachelorette party. And, what party is complete without a little chocolate?

To satisfy our cravings, I decided to make Oreo Truffles! Delish!

Here's what you'll need:
1 package Oreo Cookies, finely crushed
1 package (8 oz.) Cream Cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
Semi-Sweet Chocolate or Candy Melts (found at Michaels, etc.)

Put package of Oreos into a food processor. Blend until cookies are finely crushed. If you don't have a food processor, you can do this the old fashioned way by using a Ziploc bag and a rolling pin.
Dump crushed cookies into mixing bowl. Add package of cream cheese (you can soften cream cheese in the microwave by heating it on High for 10 seconds) and 1 teaspoon vanilla.

Mix/blend until combined and sticky looking. It helps if you have one of these:

Roll into balls and put in the freezer for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Melt chocolate ( I used baby blue, vanilla-flavored candy melts) over a double-boiler or in the microwave (use the defrost of 50% power setting).

Dips Oreo balls in melted chocolate and place on waxed paper.

I used both candy melts (in blue and yellow) and semi-sweet chocolate chips. I found the easiest way to dip the truffles was to add two or three at a time to the bowl and roll each one using two forks.

Refrigerate (or freeze) 1 hour or until firm. Store in an airtight container.

If you're feeling really fancy, you can sprinkle some extra Oreo crumbs or sprinkles on top of the truffle before the chocolate hardens.

Chicken Pot Pie

2009-06-18T22:11:00.000-07:00

There's something about Chicken Pot Pie that I love. Between the tender chicken, the rich sauce and the flaky dough, I'm in food heaven.

The only times I used to eat pot pie before this recipe were either at Marie Calenders or if I picked up a pre-made one from Costco. But, with this recipe, I can make Chicken Pot Pie anytime I want, and not feel guilty about it either.

To make this recipe, you will need:

1 package pie crusts (2 crusts)
2 tablespoons butter

1 1/2 cups chopped, cooked vegetables

2 cups (packed) shredded cooked chicken

3 tablespoons all purpose flour

Salt and pepper to taste

2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

Start by preheating the oven to 450 degrees. Unroll one pie crust into a glass pie dish. I use the kind in the refrigerated section with the cookie and pastry doughs. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes or until the crust is brown.

Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add cooked vegetables. I prefer only carrots and peas, but you can use celery, onions, Lima beans, corn or basically any vegetables you have in your freezer. Stir for one minute.Next, add the shredded chicken. You can use chicken from a rotisserie style chicken from the grocery store, or you can bake two medium-sized chicken breasts and shred them. I normally bake two chicken breasts, seasoned with salt and pepper, for 45 minutes at 350 degrees the night before. Stir chicken and vegetable mixture for one more minute.Next, add 3 tablespoons of flour and salt/pepper to taste. Stir until flour in incorporated.Then, turn up skillet heat to medium-high and add 2 cups of low-sodium chicken broth.Stir constantly and allow sauce to thicken.Once sauce has thickened, pour the chicken and vegetable mixture into your already-baked pie crust.Place the second pie crust on top.

Crimp the edges and cut about four slits in the top to allow the steam to escape.
Turn the oven down to 350 degrees and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the top crust is golden brown.

Yum!

Sam, the Ranger

2009-06-15T12:05:00.000-07:00

Sunday, the Lumberjack and I had plans to see his parents for a late lunch. When the doorbell rang, I opened the door and got a fantastic surprise:

My brother-in-law, Sam, who serves in the Army, was standing in my doorway. The last time we saw Sam was last summer, before his tour in Iraq, which he recently returned from.

This photo doesn't do him justice. My Lumberjack is 6'2", so that gives a better idea how big this kid is.

Sam is 6'9" and I feel like a shrimp standing next to him.

He's an Army Ranger, and I couldn't be more proud of him.

Something you should know about all of the men in the Lumberjack's family is they stick their tongues out when they're deep in thought.

It entertains me.

Sunday, after we went out to our favorite Mexican food joint, Jalapenos, the Lumberjack and I took Sam to Fred's in Old Town San Diego for some margaritas. He told us about his experience in Iraq and, despite what the media says about the war, Sam had a very different take.

He told us how he didn't mind being over there. Granted, he was only there for four months--the Rangers' mission are generally more intense, so they are stationed abroad for shorter periods--Sam generally had a positive outlook on his travels.

He told us he had learned to speak some Iraqi, got to play video games, went on some missions, and got shot at but remained safe. He said Iraq seemed to be turning around and their efforts there seemed very positive....a very different take than we often hear.

Thursday, he goes to Georgia for more Ranger school and then will potentially be deployed again. The thing that really stinks about his deployment is we never know where he will be until he gets back. Last time, we knew he was somewhere overseas "in the sandbox" but didn't know it was Iraq until he was safely on American soil.

But, until then, we all enjoyed having Sam back. And, you can see how proud my in-laws and husband are of their Army Ranger.

We will miss you, Sammy.

Hoorah!

The Bread Roll Blunder

2009-06-14T11:15:00.000-07:00

OK, I can admit when I fail. I'd like to think I'm a pretty good cook. In fact, there was only one incident I could recall where something I made for the Lumberjack went horribly wrong before the Bread Roll Blunder. (I made some barbecue steak and onion quesadillas that burnt onto the pan because I didn't use enough butter. In my defense, I was using my mother-in-laws pans that are not Teflon. And, the Lumberjack ate them without hesitation.)

Last week, I decided it's finally time for me to try to make bread. It can't be that hard, right?

I overestimated the difficulty of making bread from scratch.

I started off with the ingredients and followed the directions to make Kitchen Aid Sixty-Minute Dinner Rolls.

Here are the ingredients:

1/2 cup low-fat milk

1/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons salt

3 tablespoons butter

3 packages of dry active yeast (This equals 6 3/4 teaspoons if you use yeast from a jar)

1 1/2 cups warm water (105F – 115F)

5– 6 cups all-purpose flour

And I followed the directions:

"In a small saucepan, stir milk, sugar, salt and butter together. Heat over low heat until butter melts and sugar dissolves. Cool until lukewarm.

Dissolve yeast in warm water in warmed mixer bowl. Add lukewarm milk mixture and 4 1/2 cups flour to yeast mixture, and using a dough hook, mix on low speed for about 1 minute. With the mixer still going, add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, and mix about 1 1/2 minutes, or until dough starts to clean the sides of the bowl. Knead on low speed for about 2 more minutes, or until dough is smooth and elastic – the dough will still be slightly sticky to the touch.

Place dough in a greased bowl, turning it to grease the top. Cover the dough with a clean, dry dish towel, and let it rise in a warm place, free from draft, for about 15 minutes.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface, and divide into 24 equal pieces. Form each piece into a ball, and place in a greased muffin pan. Using kitchen shears or a pizza cutter (a knife will also work), cut each ball in half, then in quarters, and replace in the muffin pan. (Erin’s Note: Alternatively you can simply shape the dough into 24 balls and set them into a greased 9 by 13 baking dish. If you make the full recipe you will only be able to fit around 12 rolls in the baking dish at a time). Cover the muffin pan with the dish towel, and let the dough rise for about 15 minutes.

Bake at 425ºF for 12 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown. Remove from pans immediately, and cool on wire racks."

But the recipe I used was copied from the original and missing two important sentences:

"1. Make sure that all ingredients are at room temperature before you start;

2. After you heat the milk/sugar/butter mixture, make sure that it's not hot, not cold, but LUKEWARM when you add it to the yeast mixture - forgetting or ignoring this step will result in bread that does not rise."

And that's exactly what happened. The rolls didn't rise at all. Instead of looking like this:

*Photo courtesy of The Bumbling Baker

I ended up with 30 rolls that were rock-hard dough balls cooked through. They only served one purpose: breaking windows. And, they were so horrible, I couldn't even bring myself to take a picture of them.

Maybe I'll try making bread again sometime. But I may need some time to recover and prepare for the next bread challenge.

Ginger Steak Salad

2009-06-12T14:25:00.000-07:00

Every time I make one of The Pioneer Woman's recipes, the Lumberjack professes his love for me all over again. Thursday night, he even overlooked my "Dinner Roll Debacle" because he had a mouthful of Ginger Steak Salad, and that was all that mattered.

The salad is complex with flavors and filling thanks to the steak. Here's what you'll need:

For the steak marinade:

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon sherry

2 minced garlic cloves (Get a Pampered Chef food chopper if you use garlic often)

2 teaspoons brown sugar

Combined all ingredients in a large sealable plastic bag and mash gently. Add steak (I've used ribeye or a strip steak) and marinate for 30 minutes to two hours.

In the meantime, make the salad dressing. You will need:

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons white sugar

1 tablespoon lime juice

2 finely diced garlic cloves

1 generous tablespoon of fresh ginger, minced

1/2 jalapeno, seeded and diced

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, mix and set aside.

When the steak is done marinating, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a hot skillet (preferably cast iron) and cook steak about 1 1/2 minutes per side until it is medium rare. Remove from skillet when done and allow the steak to cool for a minute or two.

While the steak is cooling, toss about 1/2 pound salad greens with 3/4 of your dressing. Slice steak thinly. Place a mound of salad greens and a few slices of steak on a plate, then pour the remaining dressing over both. Add green onions or cherry tomatoes if you want, but I think it's perfect as is. Enjoy!

*Photo courtesy of The Pioneer Woman

The Adventures of Dutch: Episode Two

2009-06-12T09:28:00.000-07:00

So I have to apologize for the extended week long sabbatical I've taken from updating my blog. OK, it wasn't really a sabbatical, or even a vacation, it was a crazy, sleepless, emergency-filled week. And it all started about three weeks ago.

Over Memorial Day, the Lumberjack and I went on vacation for Las Vegas. Since we couldn't bring our little furkid Dutch with us, we had a very good friend of ours stay at our house. When we returned from vacation, Dutch started throwing up in the middle of the night, every night. He seemed normal otherwise, so we didn't think much of it, though we did switch his food and started feeding him smaller meals more often.

Last Friday, he threw up at about 5 a.m. and TWO PEACH PITS came out. I immediately panicked. Not only do peach pits contain cyanide, which can kill a dog, they can also easily become lodged in their intestines and kill as well.

Turns out, over Memorial Day, my friend took Dutch over to her house and let him play in the backyard, where she has peach trees. Somehow, he ate some.

So Friday, I took Dutch to the vet for an x-ray. Two-hundred dollars later, they tell me there is something wrong, but they can't actually see the pits, so we need to wait until the pitts make him sick and then do an ultrasound.

Saturday and Sunday, Dutch was miserable. He didn't want to play or go for a walk. He just wanted to sleep, and even that was challenging. He was getting up between four and eight times each night because he was so uncomfortable. Monday night, I called the vet and told them that he was very lethargic and throwing up even more often, and we scheduled an ultrasound for Tuesday. Dutch, above, over the weekend, moping on the sofa with his duck comforting him.

Tuesday morning, he was even sicker and clearly in pain. Luckily (or not, I guess), the $700 ultrasound showed a peach pit in his stomach that was basically acting like a plug to his intestines (hence the vomiting) AND making his stomach hemorrhage because of the roughness of the pit.

That afternoon, Dutch had emergency surgery and was anesthetized. The animal internist stuck a camera down his throat into his stomach and pulled out not one, but TWO peach pits. Apparently, the going rate for peach pit removal surgery is a cool $1,000--making Dutch's peach pit ordeal cost $1,900, and all for a few mouthfuls of peaches.

Within three hours of the anesthesia wearing off, our Little Dutch was back to 100% and causing trouble as if nothing had happened to him.

Luckily, we have pet insurance, which will help with some of the ridiculous cost, but we will still owe a pretty penny for this accident. Next time we go on vacation, we're putting him in daycare!

Pioneer Woman's Quick & Easy Apple Tart

2009-06-02T09:31:00.001-07:00

Baking has always been my stress relief. Last night, after a long day at work, I made the Pioneer Woman's Quick & Easy Apple Tart. Yum!

Here is the recipe:

Preheat oven to 415 degrees.

Ingredients:
1 sheet puffed pastry, cut into half
3 to 4 apples, cored, halved, and sliced (but not peeled)
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt

"Place puffed pastry rectangles onto a baking pan that’s been sprayed with nonstick spray.

Add sugar and salt to apples in bowl. Stir to combine. Allow to sit for a few minutes.

Arrange apple slices on the pastry rectangles in a straight line, overlapping as you go.

Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until pastry is puffed and golden brown. Remove from pan immediately and place on a serving platter. Serve plain, with caramel topping, whipped cream, or a sprinkling of powdered sugar."

After sprinkling with powdered sugar, I sliced each tart into thick slices.

When ready to serve, I drizzled carmel sauce over the top, and the Lumberjack asked, "Do you know how much I love you?" He's easy like that....then again, it's a good apple tart!

A Reflection: Dating

2009-05-30T17:03:00.000-07:00

Over Christmas of 2007, the Lumberjack and I spent five days together visiting each other's respective families. It was those five days that solidified what I wanted in my life--him.

When I was 15, I started a journal. It wasn't just any journal; it was a journal to my "future husband." I wrote in it monthly, sometimes daily, expressing the hope I had for the man I knew God would one day bring to me. Perhaps it was naive, but at 15 I knew that five or 10 years later, it could be an invaluable gift for the man I waited for. I also knew that the man I would feel comfortable with giving something so raw and unedited would be the man for me.

After the five days that the Lumberjack and I spent together, I started addressing my journal to him. He was the first man I could ever picture myself growing old with, and the only one since then. He was the only man I could ever imagine giving my journal to. He was the first and only man I ever wrote to in the journal and when he proposed to me, I gave it to him.

One week after our Christmas together, he told me he loved me. And I loved him back.

The following months flew by. Our freshman year was nearly over and we had "the talk," the one that determines where "this is going." That May, we both agreed we were serious, and we could make the three months of long distance work.

Long distance was hard. We were only an hour and a half away from each other, but we only saw each other on weekends, sometimes every other week, which was a big change from every single day. But, distance does make the heart grow fonder, and my time apart from him made me realize that I always wanted to be with him.

There were so many things that made me fall in love with the Lumberjack. He's like no one I'd ever met before. The Lumberjack has a tough, manly exterior--he loves sports, rock music, beer and UFC. But, there's a softer side to him that loves fancy dinners, shopping, sunsets on the beach and romantic comedies. He'd suggest watching the movie "Underworld" together and then sing Tim McGraw's "Barbecue Stain" song to me. One night we'd watch a fight together, and the next he'd take my out to a five-star restaurant and surprise me with Tiffany's jewelry. He is one of the most well-rounded people I've ever met, and that made me fall even more in love with him.

The second reason I fell madly in love with the Lumberjack was his 100% acceptance of who I was. I never felt like I had to put on an act for him to like me. I could be me--goofy, crazy, nerdy, studious, food-loving, emotional, passionate me--without having to worry that he wouldn't like it. The truth was, he loved me as madly as I loved him, and there was and is very little that could keep us apart.

By July, he took me engagement ring shopping. I picked out a beautiful platinum-set, octagon-shaped solitaire diamond in a cathedral setting. But I wouldn't get it from him until nearly one year later.
Above, our sophomore year of college before our engagement: one of my favorite pictures, despite my poorly chosen perm.

Peach Pie Perfection

2009-05-28T14:23:00.001-07:00

I love making pies. Even better, the Lumberjack loves eating pies. Apple is my specialty--apple crumb, to be specific--though I have dabbled with blackberry a bit. However, I've never made peach pie, despite my love of peaches. Since I regularly bake semi-homemade, I cheated and used a pre-made pie crust--but hey, it tastes good and is so easy!

I then filled the crust with the following ingredients after mixing them all together in a big bowl:

5 cups fresh peaches, sliced
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons sugar

After covering with the top crust on, I cut a few slits into the pie and baked it at 425 degrees for 45 minutes, covering the crust with foil for the last 10 minutes to prevent it from burning.

I couldn't believe how good my house smelled with peach pie baking.

Fresh from the oven, I cut a big slice and covered it with Fat Free ReddiWip for the Lumberjack. Peach perfection. :)

A Reflection: How We Met

2009-05-27T10:49:00.000-07:00

One year ago, I was barely three weeks out of college and four days away from my wedding. It's amazing the things that have changed since then.

I loved my Lumberjack when we got married. But my love for him then was so minuscule compared to my love for him now. The comfort and support he gives me every single day is incredible, and I can't imagine spending one day of my life not married to him.

In celebrating the last amazing year of our lives, I thought it only appropriate to share how my Lumberjack and I met, just five years ago.....

It was August 24, 2004. We were freshman at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. After being assigned to a small group for our Psychology 101 class, I found myself sitting on the roof to the PLNU athletic training building with 11 strangers--two senior psychology majors and 10 other freshman, who were as confused and excited as I was. We sat in a circle, cross-legged on top of the building, overlooking the athletic field and then the vast ocean that lay before us, much like the future in our simple college-freshman eyes. We went around and said our names. He was cute--fair skin, blue eyes, light brown hair--but it was far from love at first sight.

Over the next few sessions, twice a week for one hour, we got to know each other more. He loved Metallica and basketball; he grew up in San Diego with his two brothers and parents, still married after 25 years. He was "passionate," I wrote in my journal about him.

By Labor Day, he had a girlfriend. And it wasn't me.

He started dating a girl who played for the basketball team. I was less than crushed, after promising myself I wouldn't waste my time on silly boys like I did in high school. I told myself that the next time I date someone--the next time I kiss someone--it's going to mean something.

The Lumberjack and I continued to see each other in class, and we became friends. Within two weeks, his relationship with the basketball player had ended, and he was on to better things: namely, me. We started spending more time together--he'd come over to my room during open dorm to watch movies, and wasn't the least bit deterred when he learned another boy was pining after me. In fact, the Lumberjack encouraged Boy #1 to make a move, or he would, which led to a very awkward conversation when Boy #1 asked me out. I thought Boy #1 was gay. Oops.

Later that week, the Lumberjack was in my room for another open dorm night, and he asked me to dinner. Trying my best to uphold the standards that I had set for myself (and being slightly cruel, I'll admit), I said, "Sure, as friends."

Ouch.

I remember thinking that I didn't want to be his second girlfriend in a month. I wasn't at college to date; I was there to earn a degree and get the best education possible.

When he told me he didn't want to be my friend, I remember thinking he was brave. Not many men would face rejection so boldly and go back in for more.

But he did.

If you ask him now why he stayed around for more, he would tell you that after I commented to him that "making out should be a sport," (yes, I was brazen in my young age), he knew he wanted to know more about me.

And so, the Lumberjack continued to be my friend. We'd spend time together in group settings: going out to movies, eating at the Caf together or attending freshmen-themed events. He even befriended a girl on my hall whom I had grown close to--a sly move.

She came to me one night and told me that the Lumberjack had said "She doesn't know it yet, but she's going to be my girl," about the prospect of dating me.

What an ass--I thought.

But he was persistent. One night, out at a movie with some of our mutual friends, I commented that I was tired and he offered me his shoulder to sleep on.

"No, thanks," I replied.

Now, the Lumberjack lovingly refers to this as Rejection #2.

And he was ready to give up. It was one thing for me to reject him privately, but doing it in public got to him.

I don't remember much of the following week. I do remember getting pneumonia and, right before I left for home, he handed me the sweetest "Get Well" card he could find, even if I didn't deserve it.

When I returned to school the next week, he now admits he had nearly given up on me. But, that Friday, October 22, I asked him if he wanted to see a movie with me, and he accepted.

He expected me to bring a bunch of my girlfriends. I didn't.

The Lumberjack and I took the campus shuttle to the Fashion Valley mall where we split a pepperoni pizza at Chicago Uno. He paid, he admits, just in case it actually was a date. We walked around the mall, taking about our lives and our goals while we waited for our movie to start. At one point, I discovered his middle brother was the same age as my sister and I suggested we go on a double date sometime. And he asked, "So, is this a date?"

Yes, it was. Our first date of many. We continued the night by watching "Shark Tale" together, which to this day is very "us."

But the rejection wasn't over yet. At the end of the night, he asked if he could kiss me.

And I said, "No," telling him that he could kiss me on our second date.

But I didn't make him wait that long. Two days later, we went for a walk and I stopped rejecting him. In fact, I made the first move and kissed him (when I told my mom that I had made the first move, she called me a "brazen hussy"). It was the best first kiss of my life.

Four days after that, the Lumberjack asked me if we could be exclusive, and we were.

And, while his dorm mates called me his "October girlfriend," I knew I was so much more than that.
Above, Christmas at my parents' house, Dec. 2004. This was our first photo together and the first time he met my parents.

Las Vegas, Here We Come!

2009-05-21T10:27:00.000-07:00

In celebration of our one year wedding anniversary, the Lumberjack and I are taking a very last-minute, sexy trip to Sin City--Las Vegas. Of course, to us, it's not really Sin City. We hardly gamble (penny slots only, with a $20 limit), and we drink in moderation (mostly because I can't hold my liquor at all). To us, Las Vegas is about the food, the shows, the pools, the shopping, the nightlife and the overall extravagance of the city.

The Hotel

We booked a room at the MGM Signature, in one of the three new towers right behind the MGM Grand. The rooms are timeshares, privately-owned condos, and hotel suites. Using one of my favorite freebie/almost freebie sites, I booked a junior suite over Memorial Day weekend for $170 per night. Gotta love Vacation Rentals by Owner.

The room, as seen below, overlooks the strip, has a king-sized bed, a queen sofa pullout, a kitchenette and, the best part, the hugest marble and granite bathroom I've ever seen in a hotel suite.

The Transportation

In the past, the Lumberjack and I have driven to Vegas. From San Diego, it's only about 5 1/2 hours. The drive there is always great--snacks, music, cheesy driving games--but, the drive back is brutal. Dehydration, too much sun and exhaustion do not make good companions for a drive back through the desert. This time around, we've decided to fly.

Flying is both good, because we save 3 hours of time each way, but bad, because the first leg of our flight takes place in a 10-ROW plane. From Carlsbad to Los Angeles, we are flying in a plane that is about the length of two cars. OK, maybe three. And. That. Scares. The. Crap. Out. Of. Me.

I don't mind flying. It's the falling part I mind. Specifically, I despise taking off and landing. My poor Lumberjack nearly loses the circulation in his hand each time we fly because I am gripping it so hard during takeoffs and landings. I know it's a short flight, but I'm still nervous.

The Plan
This weekend will also be the first that we are not with Dutch. In fact, he has not had a night apart from us since we got him, over 6 months ago. Usually, he travels with us. After much debate of whether we should bring him to The Animal Keeper (where he goes for daycare), leave him with my parents or hire a house sitter, we decided to invite our dear friends Drew and Christine, more commonly known to Dutch as "Uncle Drew" and "Auntie," to spend a weekend at our place and watch over our little boy.

Clearly, he's a bit attached. And, he knows he's cute--a troublesome combination.

So, Las Vegas, here we come. My Lumberjack, I can't wait to spend the weekend with you!

New Rides

2009-05-18T16:46:00.000-07:00

After nearly one year of car shopping, I took the plunge and traded in my beloved 2003 Honda Civic for a 2009 Honda Fit. I debated for awhile between the Fit and the Mazda3. When it came down to it, the 2010 Mazda3 had a few things I didn't like, including:

1. Huge blind spots for me;

2. Low gas mileage compared to the Fit; and

3. Higher price compared to the Fit.

The Fit has everything I need and want, all for a great price. For the first time ever, I have a car that unlocks with the push of a clicker. I also have great speakers, navigation, tons of cargo space and 33-mpg.

Tani at Honda of Escondido made our sales experience quite possibly one of the best I've ever had. And, for the cherry on the sundae, the Lumberjack got a 2009 Honda Civic in replacement of his 2004 Civic, which was slowly but surely biting the dust.

So, if you're looking for a Honda, Mazda, Acura or Audi, go visit Tani at the Penske Auto Group in Escondido. She can sell all four brands and will make sure you get everything you want at a price that works for you!

O'Brothers Burgers

2009-05-14T13:30:00.000-07:00

I've been following O'Brothers Burgers on Twitter for a little while now and dying to try it. First of all, they serve all organic food, down to their sodas and fries. (In my experience, organic food generally tastes fresher and all around better.) Second, they are located in Horton Plaza (above the Levi store), so they are conveniently close to where I work. Below, you can see their Western Burger, stacked with onion rings, bacon and barbecue sauce.

Served with a side salad, these burgers are perfect for lunch or dinner. They are seasoned perfectly and just the right size to fill you up but not make you feel over-the-edge stuffed. The buns and burger aren't ridiculously sized like many sit-down burger chains, so you can actually eat the whole thing at O'Brothers, be full, but not have to unbuckle your pants. The downfall is that it's more expensive than, say, Jack in the Box, but you're paying for not only much better quality food, but for organic food as well. And, I think it's well worth it. For $7, I got the sliders and fries.

The sliders were essentially a normal size burger cut into quarters, topped with cheese, ketchup and mustard. I think they use olive oil when toasting the buns instead of butter, which gives the buns a soft texture with a rich taste. The burger seasoning also seems herb-based instead of salts or spices. If I had to guess, I'd say they have garlic, parsley and maybe basil or rosemary. The fries are like In-N-Out fries--they are clearly hand cut and come with some skin on them still. However, they are thinner than In-N-Out fries and, thus, a little crispier. They come seasoned with sea salt, a little garlic and (I think) parsley. I skipped on the drinks because they are pricey--$2.50 for a can (12 oz.) of organic soda.

Overall, I was very pleased with O'Brothers food and atmosphere. And, I'll be going back again soon, maybe for a downtown date night with the Lumberjack!

Crunchy Banana-Maple-Pecan Breakfast Muffins

2009-05-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

Alright, it's been two weeks since my last post, mostly because nothing too exciting has been happening. However, I did make some amazing breakfast muffins that I should share with you. This recipe is courtesy of Noble Pig's blog.

Crunchy Banana-Maple-Pecan Breakfast Muffins

1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup oat bran
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon table salt
2 eggs
2/3 cup light brown sugar
1 cup mashed banana (about 2 medium)
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup canola oil
3 Tablespoons maple syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips plus more for topping (I used regular chips, which were fine)
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup granola plus more for topping (I used a fruit and nut granola but any kind will work)

Noble Pig says, "In a large bowl combine whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, oat bran, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, brown sugar, banana, buttermilk, canola oil, maple syrup and vanilla extract.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir together just until both are blended together.

Gently fold in chocolate chips, pecans and granola. Prepare muffin cups with cooking spray or by using paper liners. Divide the batter among standard sized muffin cups and sprinkle the tops with more granola and mini chocolate chips.

Place in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Make sure to keep an eye on them so your granola does not burn.

Let the muffins cool in the pan for 2 minutes.Remove to a wire rack to finish cooling off. Wrap them up individually and freeze up to three months. Pop in the microwave frozen for 30-40 seconds for the perfect breakfast.

Not too sweet and not too fattening. Makes about 16 standard sized muffins."

The muffins came out perfectly. They are delicately sweet with a mix of banana and nuts. The cinnamon and nutmeg give this recipe a nice, comforting taste. The Lumberjack and I ate a few, and I froze the rest for future breakfasts. YUM!

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In the meanwhile, Dutch has discovered the glory of sleeping on our bed, instead of in his crate. He whines when he wants up, and plops down on our bed like only a corgi can. He thinks he's a prince, because he likes to find the softest spot possible. Sweet boy. On another note, how crooked is that mirror in the background of my photo? I'm going to have to check on that tonight!

Freebies/Almost Freebies

2009-05-01T08:55:00.001-07:00

I have a confession: I have become obsessed with free/so-much-on-sale-that-its-almost-free stuff.

For the past month or so, I've received a sample of something in the mail a few times a week. It started out because I just wanted to try some products: Starbucks instant coffee, new Quaker chocolate raspberry granola bars, or new Tide Total Care detergent. But, it's grown. I've now received Kashi cookies, Huggies wipes, Zyrtec, Crest teeth whitening kits, Dr Pepper coupons....the list goes on.

But, hey, it's free!

I've also become mildly obsessed with huge sale/discount sites. I love finding jewelry marked 85% off, or trips to Hawaii for about $500 a person (including room and airfare), or kitchen gadgets that are marked ridiculously low.

But, what kind of a person would I be if I kept it all to myself?

Here's a list of my favorite free/huge discount sites:

1. Travelzoo.com. Anyone who knows me know that this IS, in my opinion, the best travel site out there. I flew round trip to London for $600 through this site. I booked a $700/night Las Vegas room in the Planet Hollywood Hotel for $79/night. I've flown throughout Europe for $2 each round trip flight. Seriously. I haven't booked a vacation without using travelzoo.com in years.

2. Bradsdeals.com. If you're not a member of this site, join today. I cannot believe the deals posted daily here. Two days ago, I saw a KitchenAid stand mixer for $129 (usually $300). Yesterday, they had a Bulova women's watch--WITH DIAMONDS--for under $200 (usually $995). The deals change every day, and they're always items marked way down.

3. Spaweek.com. This amazing site holds spring and fall events each year where qualifying spas in your city offer $50 treatments. Yes, you CAN get a massage from an expensive spa for just $50. I have personally participated in the last two Spa Weeks (Fall 2008, April 2009) and was impressed. During the fall event, I received a $50 Swedish massage (usually $85) from a spa near my house. It was hands down the BEST massage I've ever received. Last month, I received a Hot Stone massage (usually $95) from the same spa, which was equally amazing. For $50, some spas also offer facials, microdermabrasion, 60-minute pedicures, etc. They also also discounted services at participating spas throughout the year. Sign up today!

4. Walmart.com. While I rarely actually shop at Wal-Mart, their Web site (http://instoresnow.walmart.com/in-stores-now-free-samples-and-trials.aspx) always has free samples available. From wipes to detergent to allergy medicine, you can order a sample before you commit. I love that I can try something (like Crest whitening strips) before I spend money on a product.

5. Gilt.com. I am a relatively new member of this site, and I'm loving it. Each day, they host new sales online. New DESIGNER sales. Lucky for my bank account, and my marriage, I don't go to a lot of place that I can rationalize having a $1,000 handbag (originally $2,500) or a $150 silk top (originally $350). But, if I did, this would be where I buy my entire wardrobe.

5. Restaurant.com. I love food. And, I love eating out. Restaurant.com helps me eat out without breaking my budget. This Web site sells gift certificates for a reduced rate. The catch is, you have to spend a certain amount, which you're going to anyway. For example, they sell a $25 gift certificate to McCormick and Schmicks for $10. The catch is you have to spend $35 at the restaurant. Still, if you spend $35, that means you're only paying $20. And, restaurant.com has major sales. I have purchased a $25 gift certificate for $2. That means, for a $35 meal, I'm only paying $12. Come on, you can't beat that. Only certain restaurants qualify, but within 30 miles of my house, almost 200 restaurants participate. Check it out!

6. VRBO.com. I love travelling, but staying in a hotel can get expensive. Not only do you have to pay for the room, you have to plan on eating every meal out. Not so anymore. VRBO (vacation rentals by owner) offers condominiums and houses at discount prices. For our honeymoon, the Lumberjack and I used VRBO to stay in the most amazing condo in Hawaii (http://www.vrbo.com/131306). It was every bit as good as the photos on the site. The condo was beautifully decorated and a fraction ($169/night) of what we would have paid staying in a hotel. Plus, it was 2 bedrooms/2 bathroom and had a full kitchen! Not to mention, it came with a new Jeep for us to drive. It doesn't get much better than that!

The Adventures of Dutch

2009-04-29T10:47:00.000-07:00

Last night, Dutch discovered that a world exists underneath the bed.

So, while "mommy" was working, Dutch explored under the bed and found lots of surprises--folded up boxes from my beloved KitchenAid mixer, a box from our Sonicare electric toothbrush and silverfish poison!

Being a puppy, everything MUST go into his mouth, including a packet of DEKKO silverfish poison, as seen to the left. By the time I got to him, all that was left were a few slimy balls of shredded paper.

Being the concerned mother, I immediately called the fabulous people at Poway Animal Emergency Clinic, who directed me to Poison Control.

Thank God for poison control. I was told that DEKKO contains Boric acid, which is an irritant, and that the dog would likely get sick. After feeding him and giving him plenty of ice cubes, he did, in fact, get sick. Five minutes later, all better. That dog!

Anyway, I just wanted to give a big thanks to Poway Animal Emergency Clinic and Poison Control for helping our little Dutch!

Makeup Makeover

2009-04-27T13:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I went to the Benefit cosmetics counter to buy another playstick, the foundation I've been using for about a year. After telling the girl there that I thought the playstick was a little too heavy for me, she matched me up with some new makeup, and she did a great job. I walked away with a whole new makeup arsenal, including:

Boi-ing, a spot cover up/concealer that camouflages imperfections without looking cakey or, in my case, orangey. It goes on very nicely with Benefit's concealer brush, which is slightly feathered to help it blend in with the rest of the foundation.

Then I got Some kind-a gorgeous (right), their "foundation faker," which has good coverage but not in a cakey sort of way. It goes on smooth and blends nicely with Boi-ing, without looking like I've got 5 pounds of makeup on.

I followed my new concealer/foundation with their new Coralista blush, which gave me a rosey glow. The Lumberjack said it gave me much better coverage than the Dandelion blush I use now, and I agree. Plus, it smells good! Being fair skinned, I struggle with finding a shade that's not too purpley or orangey. And, some of the pinks can make me look too angelic, so this is a good change.

While I planned on stopping there, it's never that easy. She then showed me their creaseless eye shadow/liner. In my opinion, they never really are creaseless. Yes, they say they are but eight hours in, I normally have cream-shadow creases that are, to say the least, unattractive. But, this really is creaseless. Smudged on my eyelid, I have bronzed, glittery eyes that even after 10 hours last night were crease-free. Amazing!

And, what good is a new look and new makeup without a new lipstick? I'm not a big lipstick wearer, but when I do wear it, I wear a bright red shade of Benefit. However, it's not one I can wear everyday. "Skinny dip," one of their silky finish lipsticks, is one I can wear everyday. It's nude with just the right hint of pink, and a perfect pairing with the eye shadow and blush.

All that to say, if you want to add one new piece to your makeup arsenal, or restock the whole thing, I highly recommend going to your nearest Benefit counter as soon as possible!

The Lumberjack and me

2009-04-15T21:45:00.000-07:00

How long have you been together?We have known each other for 5 years this August. Our one-year wedding anniversary is this May. It's been 5 years since our first date this October.

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
Two months.

Who asked who out?
He asked me out. Twice. And I said no, twice. Third, and final time, I asked him out to a movie. We saw "Shark Tale."

Whose siblings do you see the most?
Mine, since his brother's are in the Army and currently across the country/over seas.

Do you have any children together?
Not yet. Ask in about 5-7 more years.

What about pets?
Yes, we have a little puppy named Dutch, who is our child at the moment.

Did you go to the same school?
Yes, we both went to PLNU.

Who is the most sensitive?
Me, for sure.

Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Pei Wei.

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Venice, Italy.

Who has the craziest exes?
Me.

Who has the worst temper?
The Lumberjack, but that's not saying much.

Who does the cooking?
I do. The Lumberjack grills. I do the rest, and love it.

Who is more social?
Neither. We're pretty even.

Who is the neat freak?
He is, always.

Who is the most stubborn?
He, but I'm a control freak.

Who hogs the bed?
Me. Covers and bed.

Who wakes up earlier?
I do, because Dutch wakes me up. It's a mother's instinct.

Where was your first date?
Uno's Chicago Bar and Grill at Fashion Valley, and a movie.

Who has the bigger family?
Immediate, the Lumberjack does. Extended, me.

Do you get flowers often?
Every week. I love fresh flowers in my house.

How long did it take to get serious?
Within three months I knew I was going to marry him.

Who eats more?
He does definitely.

Who sings better?
Probably me, but I've had lessons.

Who does the laundry?
I usually do, but he helps sometimes.

Who’s better with the computer?
I've had more experience (he was home schooled).

Who drives when you are together?
We take turns. .

Who picks where you go to dinner?
We normally agree on a place.

Who is the first one to admit when they’re wrong?
I am.

Who wears the pants in the relationship?

We like to share.

Who has more tattoos?
Both have two.

Who eats more sweets?
I do. I crave chocolate.

Who cries more?
Really? I cry waaaaaay more. I'm a girl. Come on.

Bakerella cupcakes

2009-04-13T16:14:00.001-07:00

In celebration of Easter, I made cupcakes, courtesy of Bakerella and Kevin and Amanda's Recipe blog. I used Kevin and Amanda's chocolate cake recipe, which is my favorite chocolate cake recipe that I have EVER made. Seriously, I will not make another chocolate cake/cupcake recipe. I substituted their butter cream icing recipe with the confectioner's sugar icing. Coconut dyed green, for grass, robin's eggs, peeps and sour punch straws made the perfect mini Easter basket cupcakes. This one is missing the punch straw basket part, but it's cute nonetheless. I bought clear cellophane baggies from Michael's and spring-looking ribbon to seal the package.

(Please ignore the cameras in the background. I brought these to work and had to take a picture before they all got eaten.)

High School Self

2009-04-08T16:16:00.000-07:00

I attended a semi-prominent high school in Orange County--Santa Margarita Catholic High School (SMCHS). Products of my high school include Carson Palmer (NFL player), Amy Rodriguez (Olympic Gold Medalist), and....Doug Reinhardt?

Maybe it's just me, but being cute and gallivanting around with Hollywood starlets (Hills actresses, Amanda Bynes, now Paris Hilton) doesn't seem like a promising life goal. Then again, at least he has something in common with them.

Photo Courtesy of www.buzzhollywood.com

Mr. Reinhardt, as far as I know, graduated in my high school class in 2004. (What I mean by that is, I know he attended SMCHS with me, but I do not know that he graduated. For arguments' sake, we will assume he did.) He was a jock, a baseball jock, which didn't mean too much since we had a stellar football team and they were the popular ones. He was cute, even then, as you can tell. While I didn't personally know him, I had been warned to stay away as I was told that he apparently (a) knew he was cute and was full of himself and (b) was a jerk. And so, I did.

There's something about high school that, for the most part, makes me want to leave it in the past. However, when Mr. Reinhardt's face flashes on my TV screen at home during an E! Soup commercial, I'm right back in the not-so-glamorous but snobbishly-wealthy SMCHS days.

It all makes me wonder, how much of our adult selves are developed in high school? I'd like to think there is very little of my high school self that is alive in my adult self today. I'd like to think that the most of the girl I left in high school is a former version of me. But, is it?

From what I was told about Mr. Reinhardt in high school, and who he seems to be on TV and in gossip mags now, it doesn't seem like all that much has changed.

I hope I'm wrong. I hope Mr. Reinhardt is humble, and generous, and kind, and loyal and loves Paris as much as she claims he does. I hope he's changed, because then I can have hope that all is not molded pre-high school, and that I am not the childish, insecure, shy, needy girl that I used to be.

My theology

2009-04-06T14:10:00.001-07:00

An acquaintance of mine recently posted her status on Facebook, blaming God for "taking away (her) happiness." Her happiness, apparently, was linked to a boy, whom she had dated a relatively short time, who had broken her heart, or so she claimed.

There are several things that bother me about this, least of which is that I cannot believe that a boyfriend of barely a month can break some one's heart. You can have your heart broken if you find your boyfriend making out with your best friend (been there), or worse, your mother. You can have your heart broken if your husband of 15 years is canoodling with the office secretary. But, a boyfriend of a few weeks? Please.

Second, to blame God for taking away one's happiness, seems so trite. It seems reasonable to blame God if your fiance dies in a horrible car wreck the night before your wedding or, after spending thousands of dollars on in Vitro and conceiving, you give birth to a stillborn. These are things that I can understandably see someone blaming God for. Boyfriend dumping you? Come on. Thousands of mothers lost their babies due to malnutrition today. Blame God for that (even though it's really the fault of shady politics and closed borders).

It all comes down to my own theology, I suppose. God doesn't hand out happiness in little yellow pills that melt like sugar under your tongue. He lets people make choices. And, whether those choices make you happy or sad isn't up to Him, it's up to free will. Free will allows boys to dump girls. Free will allows drunk drivers to jump behind the wheel, when they're seeing two, and drive 30 miles over the speed limit into the car of a pregnant woman. Free will gives the rapist the choice to continue his crime. How is that God's fault? Would you rather the world be full of puppets, who have no choice in their actions, no choice in who or what they love?

I've witnessed pain. I've had my share of breakups. I've experienced the death of people close to me. And more than once. But, never was it God's fault. People get cancer. People are plagued with depression and kill themselves. People get killed by drunk drivers. Every day. And, it's not God's fault. Blame the drunks; blame the toxins that have developed and create cancer within out bodies. Blame the dark thoughts. But don't, don't blame God.

Cheap Meal Ideas

2009-04-01T13:56:00.001-07:00

So, now that the Lumberjack has been laid off, we are trying to majorly cut our expenses.

One of those expenses is eating out (which we would do about two to three times a week before he got laid off, and not at all now), and eating in/buying groceries. Since we don't eat out often, we generally have some nice meals in. For example, every Sunday, we have a steak dinner. It's something we've done since we got married. Luckily, I still have about 4 more cuts of steak in our freezer, so we'll have steak dinners on Sundays for the next few weeks still.

In order to save money, I will be making a list and posting the recipes for some yummy cheap meals.

1. Spaghetti. A pound of spaghetti, which feeds 4, costs about $1. I dress it up with shrimp ($6), olive oil, a little garlic salt, and butter for about $7 total. Or, two chicken breasts breaded and a jar of tomato sauce for about $5. Or, I buy a pound of Italian sausage ($4) and add a jar of tomato sauce ($2). Even though it's just the two of us, I make this meal for 4 so that we have leftovers the next day. Besides, for four meals, that works out to less than $2 per meal!

2. Chili. I have a great chili recipe that I got, which I now cannot find the origins of. But, that's the great thing about chili. It's a whatever-you-have-in-your-fridge/pantry meal. The recipe I have calls for 2 cans kidney beans, 1 can white kidney beans, green pepper, onion, ground beef, parsley, oregano, salt, pepper, tabasco sauce, 2 cans tomato puree, chili powder and one other spice I can't remember. Last time I made it, I had a can of red beans that I threw in for one can of kidney beans. And I added red pepper flakes. I normally serve this up in a bread bowl ($2) with a handful of shredded cheddar cheese on top ($1). All of the ingredients, especially if you already have the spices, cost less than $10. I normally get 6 to 8 full meals out of this. If I use it as a side dish, I could get more like 12 to 16 sides out of it. Yum!

3. Breakfast. Eggs, a box of busquick, some bread, and bacon (if you're being fancy) are all you need for a first-class breakfast. Since the Lumberjack is Dutch, he loves a stack of two pancakes with two fried eggs on top, followed by two more pancakes, all covered in maple syrup. Or, we make egg sandwiches. Our favorite is from the movie "Spanglish"--two slices of sourdough bread toasted, slather mayo on one side, top with tomato (with salt and pepper) and lettuce. Add two fried eggs on top, a slice of jack cheese, and two slices of bacon or salami. Finish that the second slice of bread and you've got one yummy sandwich. Or, french toast is always a favorite at our house. Two meals probably cost $5.

4. Grilled cheese and tomato soup. This is seriously the simplest meal, and super tasty. Plus, it's cheap! Less than $5 for 2 meals. (And, I highly recommend getting a cast iron skillet to make the grilled cheese. It makes ALL the difference, I promise!)

5. Potatoes. In America, we eat these as a side with a huge steak. In Europe, this IS the meal. They add everything to baked potatoes, from ham to tuna, seriously. While tuna on potato hasn't won me over, I have fallen for potatoes for dinner. Personally, I prefer potatoes baked in the microwave as the oven gives them a tough skin that I don't like to eat. I cook them, cut them open, and then spread butter, cheddar cheese, chopped ham (low sodium, applewood smoked, honey baked, etc.), sour cream and chives (for those that like them). And, it's good to go. I put 1/8 to 1/4 pound of ham on each potato. All together, even with Boar's Head ham, this meal costs about $5 for two people.

6. Mexican food. Being that Mexican food is heavy on beans and rice (cheap and cheaper!), it is a great money-saver when it comes to food. Bean and cheese burritos, carne asada tacos (Costco has cheap carne asada!), ground beef tacos with lawry's taco seasoning, quesadillas and chicken tortilla soup are all fantastic dinners that can be made for under $4 a serving.

7. Chicken bake. My mom used to make a variation of this for dinner. It was our comfort food--or at least my dad's, since I hated it as a child. Now, I've found a variation of it that I love, and I make it all the time. I make a big recipe, using 2 cans Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup, 2 cups water, 1 1/2 cups rice, 1/4 tsp. paprika, 1/4 tsp. curry powder, and 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts. Mix all of the ingredients together, minus the chicken breasts, in a casserole dish. When mixed, lay the chicken on top and add another sprinkle of paprika and curry. Cover, and bake, for 45 minutes or until done.

8. Macaroni and Cheese. Yes, I know. This isn't an adult dish. BUT, it's cheap and yummy. I like Velveeta shells with the cheese pre-made, so you don't need to mix a powder with milk and butter. Then, I put a few breaded chicken breasts on top and serve. Yum!

9. Hot dogs, or brats. As I kid, I also hated hot dogs. Something about the taste--yuk! But, about a year ago, I tried them again, and realized they are delicious. My favorites are Hebrew National and Boar's Head. For $5 for a package of Boar's Head franks (10 hot dogs), we get 4 meals. A package of hot dog buns costs maybe $2.

10. Potstickers and Rice. This might not count as a full meal to some people, but it is to us! Trader Joe's sell chicken postickers in the frozen section that are delicious. I make about 6 or 7 per person, and then a cup of rice per person. I doctor up the rice with a tablespoon of butter, and a good shake of salt and pepper. This meal costs about $5 for two servings.

That's all for now! Have fun cooking!

The Lumberjack's Resume

2009-03-31T08:35:00.000-07:00

I know, it's been far too long since I last posted. I've busied myself studying the methods of The Pioneer Woman, Nobel Pig and Bakerella, and found myself swept away with no time to blog!

But, it's time to put myself back out there again.

The Lumberjack lost his job yesterday. The company is in shambles and will likely be run into the ground by the current vice president.

Needless to say, my hard-working, very ethical and honest husband needs a job. He has a degree in business administration and about 3 years of experience in the fields of marketing, sales, and business. Here is his resume. Please pass it along to everyone and anyone who might be able to find this capable man a job! Thank you!

**The Lumberjack found a job within 3 days, so I have removed his resume.**

Spring Cleaning

2009-03-11T11:24:00.000-07:00

I hate waking up when it's dark out, because of Daylight Savings. This morning, the moon was still up when I was. That is not OK.

However, I adore getting home when it's light out. I turn up the radio and drive home with the windows down, and I love every minute.

The lengthened day makes me realize how much time I have. So I decided to being spring cleaning.

Last night, I attempted to tackle the pantry AND kitchen. After a nearly-full bottle of red wine vinegar dropped and shattered all over my floor, and I realized that tackling both was unlikely. I settled for the pantry, which now looks beautiful and professionally organized. Luckily, I had the Lumberjack to help with the kitchen, so I only have a little left to do today. I will also be tackling our linen closet tonight.

Tomorrow, the plan is to sort through our closets and get ride of anything we don't use, as well as organize. We also need to go through our bills, receipts, etc. and clean under the bed. Friday, I will attempt to part with dozens of beloved and rarely-used beauty items, such as lotions, bath soaps, etc. when I clean out our bathroom. Saturday, I plan to clean out the closet on our patio and wipe down our patio furniture. All this is leading up to the finale, which I can't do until the rest is clean: have the carpets cleaned and reseal the granite in the kitchen.

This is serious business, folks.

Firsts: About Me

2009-03-10T10:54:00.000-07:00

1. Who was your FIRST prom date? David Q, the first "boyfriend" I had in high school. We were just friends by our junior prom, three years later. Of course, it was easy to be friends when the extent of our dating meant we talked on the phone often and went bowling together, with friends, once. I wore a white princess dress. Looking back, it was awefully wedding-ish. In a bad way.
2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love? I've got to say, now that I've found true love, I don't know that I had a love before Joe. Not really, at least. But, assuming what I had as a teenager was love, no, I don't talk to him, not do I care to.
3. What was your 1st alcoholic drink? It would have to be horrible Mexican vodka mixed with juice. I hated vodka for years after that. Legally, it was some kind of martini at PB Bar & Grill. Now, I prefer vodka. Good vodka.
4. What was your FIRST job? I worked as an assistant at Dr. Nakamura's orthodontic office through High School. It kept me out of trouble, for the most part.
5. What was your FIRST car? A 2003 Honda Civic, 4-doors and white, which I still have.
6. Who was the FIRST person in your text inbox today? Carlos, from work, checking on my lunch plans.
7. Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning? My wonderful husband, Joe
8. Who was your FIRST grade teacher? I think her name was Mrs. Woodrell. I have a vague memory of her. I do remember, however, that our classroom was beneath the stairs in the building and we had a hard time distinguising between an earthquake and a herd of 8th graders assending the staircase.
9. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane? I think I went to New York and Washington, D.C., when I was 6 months old. First aiprline ride that I remember would be to Washington, D.C., to visit family.
10. Who was your FIRST best friend & do you still talk? Caitlin R. We are facebook friends and talk every once in awhile. She's getting married soon and I am very excited for her!
11. Where was your FIRST sleep over? Probably with Caitlin, or with girl scouts.
12. Who was the FIRST person you talked to today? Joe
13. Whose wedding were you in the FIRST time? My own, I guess. But I will be a matron of honor in Lisa's in July!
14. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning? Pulled Dutch onto the bed to snuggle with me
15. What was the FIRST concert you ever went to? HelloGoodbye, I think
16. FIRST tattoo? It's a kanji symbol for "Forever" near my hip. It was a purity symbol to myself.
18. First foreign country you've been to? Mexico, if that counts. If not, England.
19. FIRST movie you remember seeing? Pocahontas
20. When was your FIRST detention? In high school, for a very short skirt.
22. Who was your FIRST roommate? Anne, she was a bit crazy and dropped out after a few weeks, not before multiple pregnancy scares, abusing drugs, getting her tongue pierced and having an occasional breakdown.
23. If you had one wish, what would it be? That my marriage remains happy, healthy and strong, and that we one day have a family together where I get to be a stay-at-home mom.
24. What is something you would learn if you had the chance? I'd take cooking classes, or maybe go to law school.

Butterflies and rocks

2009-03-09T15:28:00.000-07:00

I was never very good at dating. I loved the butterflies, the excitement that getting ready for a first date brought, giggled phone calls, the first kiss, and all the accompanied a brief relationship. But I was never good at it.

Before my husband, my longest relationship was 3 months. I used to joke that 3 months was the limit because it would take me 1 and 1/2 months to figure out I didn't like the guy after the excitement went away, and 1 and 1/2 months to end it. But, that really does sum up 90% of the relationships I had before I met my husband.

Part of the problem is, I've always been to nice. I get that from my mother. I'm nice to everyone. And chatty, and genuinely interested, which many men take as flirty. And then, when I'd realized they thought I was flirty, I didn't want to lead them on, so I'd go on a date with them. And then I didn't want to be mean, so it turned into multiple dates.

Most of the time, I tried to convince myself that (a) he was a nice guy and that made up for the fact that I didn't find him attractive or (b) he was cute and that made up for him being a jerk. Before I knew it, I'd turn into the girlfriend of a guy I never liked or was attracted to initially. Thus, the revolving cycle.

There were a few guys I dated an genuinely liked. Very few, but a few.

Now, I realize how insecure of me that was. Instead of hurting some one's feelings, I'd make believe a relationship and attraction that didn't exist. I was a silly teenage girl.

Luckily, I'm not anymore.

I'm also a much better fiancee and now wife than I was at being a girlfriend.

I still love the butterflies and the excitement, but I love the comfort and stability more. I love knowing that I don't have to wear 6-inch heels and pretend I like motocross or rice rockets or emo music to get a boy to like me. Instead, I get to dress up and be real with my husband. I get to stay in my pajamas until noon and have breakfast in bed. I get to fall asleep next to my best friend each night and wake up to his sweet face each morning.

To me, being married is much more fun than dating. Maybe it's because I'm a newlywed and have only been married a year (in May), but I don't see what all the fuss against marriage is really about. It has been the most wonderful thing in my life and I adore being married.

And I think my husband would agree, I'm a pretty good wife. ;)

Watchmen

2009-03-09T15:00:00.000-07:00

Let me preview this by saying, I wasn't particularly thrilled about spending 3 hours in a movie theater. I don't make it to movies often. In fact, the last movie I saw was Quantum of Solace. That being said, I went into Watchmen with an open mind. I've liked most of the other "superhero" movies and had hope for this one.

But I was wrong.

The movie starts out with the death of the Comedian. Not too brutal, but they're just warming up. Within a few minutes, it is revealed that the Comedian is a superhero. A good one. Immediately, I was torn from rooting for anyone, knowing that the good guys are probably doomed to die a much more tragic death than the Comedian. The movie continued with all sorts of brutalities: a man's arms are sawed off, dogs fight over the leg of a child after her murderer is done with her, heads are blown off, people are exploded, and those are just the few that I remember. On a basic level, it showed the depravity of the human condition. But, after about an hour, it was gore for gore's sake. And then, there was another hour and 45 minutes of it.

My other complaint was that, unlike Ironman or The Dark Knight, you really have no idea who the good guys and bad guys are. I mean, you think you know who the good guys are, but rooting for them means their ultimate demise. The bad guy remains a mystery until 15 minutes before the end of the movie, when they try to tie all of the confusing plot together to make sense in one fell swoop. It didn't work.

I left the theater wanting the 3 hours of my life back. I didn't learn anything, and I didn't enjoy it. Yes, the special effects were excellent, but they didn't make up for 3 hours of a gruesome and confusing plot.

All that to say, I will not be renting this movie.

Score: D+

Puppy-safe Treats

2009-03-06T15:10:00.001-08:00

I tried to find recommendations of treats to leave with Dutch while I'm away at work, and I really couldn't find anything. I thought I'd start my own list of things that I've found to be safe to leave with a puppy while I'm at work. On a normal day, I leave Dutch with:

1. One or two Nylabones. He doesn't love these, but I keep hoping on day he'll realize how neat they are.
2. A bully stick. Unlike rawhide, puppies can't really break of big chunks of a bully stick and choke. It's kind of smelly, but apparently tastes good as Dutch can't get enough.
3. A kong with a cashew in the small end (aromatic to make the dog want it more), a few bits of carrots, some peanut butter, and some puppy chow, all topped off with peanut butter. Frozen is best!
4. A hollowed out bone (like the one seen here: http://www.petco.com/product/6543/Redbarn-White-Bones.aspx) with peanut butter smeared on the inside, plus carrots and dog food.
5. A bone or two with peanut butter flavored stuffing (like seen here: http://www.petco.com/product/6066/Redbarn-Meat-Filled-Bones.aspx). Once the stuffing is gone, I normally use Natural Balance Lamb Roll (found here: http://www.petco.com/product/7133/Natural-Balance-Dog-Food-Rolls-Lamb-Formula.aspx) to restuff it. Also, I freeze this as it takes him longer to eat and is good on puppy teeth.
6. A rope for chewing, like this one: http://www.petco.com/product/100479/Booda-Fresh-N-Floss-Wintermint-2-Knot-Bone.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch. I'm not sure if he likes it that much, but it's one more thing to chew and play with.

All of these things I have personally found OK to leave with Dutch. However, make sure you supervise your dog and decide for yourself.

Dutch: The Introduction

2009-03-05T10:49:00.001-08:00

Mr. and Mrs. Lumberjack are pleased to announce the addition of Little Dutch to their family!

On October 11, 2008 (my husband--the Lumberjack's--23rd birthday), we decided to go look at Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppies. At the time, there were three litters available: one litter of four 10-week-old tri-color boys, one litter of seven 5-day-old puppies, and one litter of eight 1-day-old puppies. At the time, we weren't sure we were ready for the commitement of a furkid. But, 4 weeks later, we returned to look again.

On our second visit, the two youngest litters were now 4-ish weeks old. They were cute and soft and starting to get their little personalities. The Lumberjack picked out two boys he liked from the first litter. I, of course, liked the other two better. Since we couldn't decide, we went to look at the last litter after deciding the tri-boys, who were older, were not for us.

I saw this cute little ball of fur with perfect markings and picked him up. When I handed him to the Lumberjack , he fell right asleep in his arms. That's when we knew, he was the one.

We went and visited him at 5-weeks-old, and he kept getting cuter and cuter! Waiting for him to come home was very hard. There was one period where we didn't see him for 3 weeks and I missed him so much. Once we decided on him, we couldn't wait to bring him home to us.

Dutch came home to us on December 18, 2008. He was 9 weeks, 6 days old. We had already paid to have him crate-trained at the breeder's home (Lisa and Patrick Bigelbach), and he fell asleep in the car on the way to his new home. At the vet that day, he weighed in at 7.2 pounds.

Over the past few weeks, the Lumberjack and I have dealt with typical puppy issues: biting, potty training, barking, being destructive, not listening, running away, etc. But, he is getting better and adjusting well to life at the center of our family.

At the end of January, the Lumberjack , Dutch and I went to Puppy Kindergarten for the first time. Being the smart boy that he is, Dutch already knew most of the commands (sit, come, stay, down, etc.). We've been working on "Place" and "Watch me," so it was good. After his mini-lesson, he got to play with all the other puppies (about 14) and socialize with the adults and kids that brought them. It was great to see him playing and having such a good time. It was even better that he was exhausted the rest of the day and the Lumberjack and I had some time to spend with friends.

Since then, Dutch attended 5 more puppy kindergarten classes and graduated last Monday. He was very proud and has grown into a sweet little boy in the 11+ weeks we've had him. He now knows sit, stay, wait, come, down, watch me, leave it, drop it, go to your place, go outside, go potty, and off. He's grown a lot since we got him, and is now 22 pounds! He loves his "Daddy," the Lumberjack, all of his "Aunties" and "Uncles," his bully sticks, and his Kong Wubba. He has also proved to us how he is not a "typical" corgi as he loves snuggling and being a lap dog, and really doesn't bark much at all. What a sweet and smart boy he is! We have loved having him in our family and are looking forward to many years with him!

The Pioneer Woman: Favorite Burgers

2009-03-05T10:35:00.001-08:00

As much as I am a Californian at heart, there's something I love about the country. "Country" to me, in California, is the suburbs. I don't mind driving 10 minutes to the supermarket, and I hope one day I will have to. I am not a city girl at all. And, because of that, I love following the Pioneer Woman's blog. Ree Drummond, who lives in Oklahoma with her husband and four kids on a cattle farm, has the most wonderful blog. She focuses on "Confessions," or life around the farm, "Cooking," which features the most wonderful homemade recipes, "Photography," "PW Home and Garden," and "Homeschooling."

While I love all of her posts, the foodie in me adores her cooking section. For the last month, I've been hankering for a cast iron skillet, just so I can make some of the recipes she does. On Sunday, I broke down about bought myself a 12-inch pre-seasoned cast iron skillet from Lodge Logic, which Ree recommends. I've used it twice now: once to make the most fabulous grilled cheese (melty on the inside and crunchy crisp on the outside, mmmm...), and once to make Ree's favorite burgers, which I highly recommend making at your soonest opportunity. You can get the recipe here: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/01/my-most-favorite-burger-ever-for-now/
I highly recommend making these burgers. Tonight. Seriously.
I'm not a big blue cheese fan, but I tried it as the recipe calls for. Oh man, these burgers are heavenly and quite possibly the best burgers I've ever eaten. Ever in my life.

The spiciness of the Tabasco in the meat, combined with the sweetness of the caramelized onions and the tangy saltiness of the blue cheese nearly made me cry when I was eating it. The combination is seriously an explosion of beautiful flavors. My husband, who always loves my cooking so is semi-biased but wouldn't lie, literally couldn't speak. When he did, he said, "Wow, you're awesome." And later, "This burger made me fall in love with you all over again."

So, thanks, Ree. I'll be making these again very soon!

Grease

2009-03-05T10:10:00.000-08:00

The Lumberjack and I went to GREASE last night at the San Diego Civic Theater. The performance was wonderful. It was the touring production, and the acting and singing were excellent. Taylor Hicks debuted as Teen Angel, and he did a fabulous job. His voice is very good and I was impressed by his acting, not to mention his oh-so glittery suit.

I was slightly disappointed by the story itself, though that has nothing to do with the quality or performance by the actors. As one who grew up watching the movie, the Broadway production of Grease varied a bit. Granted, it is difficult to recreate a car race scene onstage, but that concept was entirely removed from the musical. Instead, Sandy realizes, during a party where she is essentially the outcast as Danny doesn't show up, that she must change to be with him. There is no big race scene at all, just a final dance in the dinner of "You're the one that I want" followed by a reprise of "We go together."

I also felt that Sandy's character was a bit left out in the first act. In the movie, you can see and feel how Sandy and Danny long to be with each other, despite the initial social challenges. The movie takes time to develop both characters separately. In the musical, Sandy's role was scarce in the first act, which I felt limited the amount of excitement created when they do eventually get together. In the scenes she did participate in, she was almost so good, too good, that she seemed unlikeable. I know this is no fault of the actress herself. She did a fabulous job and really embodied Sandy as well as anyone following in Olivia Newton-John's shoes could. However, I felt the script to be lacking when it came to getting the audience to sympathize and understand the complexity of the Sandy-Danny relationship. I would have liked to see more of Sandy so that the audience was really rooting for the love-filled ending.

Overall, the production was good. I'm glad I saw it, but I don't know that I'd see it again.

Score: B

The Lumberjack's Wife

My Favorite Things.... of 2009

Wear Sunscreen

A Review: The Twilight Series

When It Rains

Tuesday Ten: The Lumberjack

Tuesday Ten

Dutch: On "The Daily Corgi"

A Review of Las Vegas: Rosemary's

Five years ago

Fragility

Changes: "Adult" Furniture

"Friend"

11 Day Diet Review

Seasons: For Baked Potato Soup

The 11 Day Diet: Day Four

Comforting vs. Fixing

Marrying for money

A Reflection: Traveling

Flank Steak and Spicy Garlic Potatoes

Banana Bread: Breakfast OR Dessert

Now offering: Custom Invitations/Announcements

Homemade Pesto Pizza

Blueberry Muffins with Cinnamon Struesel

Blueberry Muffins with Cinnamon Struesel: A Preview

Lemon Garlic Salmon with Rosemary Garlic Potatoes

My Goal: To Be a Stay-at-Home Mom

A Reflection: The Engagement

*My favorite* chocolate chip cookie recipe EVER

High School Reunion

Weddings, Fourth of July, etc.

Oreo Truffles

Chicken Pot Pie

Sam, the Ranger

The Bread Roll Blunder

Ginger Steak Salad

The Adventures of Dutch: Episode Two

Pioneer Woman's Quick & Easy Apple Tart

A Reflection: Dating

Peach Pie Perfection

A Reflection: How We Met

Las Vegas, Here We Come!

New Rides

O'Brothers Burgers

Crunchy Banana-Maple-Pecan Breakfast Muffins

Freebies/Almost Freebies

The Adventures of Dutch

Makeup Makeover

The Lumberjack and me

Bakerella cupcakes

High School Self

My theology

Cheap Meal Ideas

The Lumberjack's Resume

Spring Cleaning

Firsts: About Me

Butterflies and rocks

Watchmen

Puppy-safe Treats

Dutch: The Introduction

The Pioneer Woman: Favorite Burgers

Grease

My favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe EVER