Hello Old Friend

How have you been? It's been a while. I'm very happily adjusting to married life.  Strangely, according to those I've talked with recently, M and I still aren't cohabitating.  Anyway, on to way more important and interesting things.  I've decided to make a few goals for 2013.

I want to make one new "challenge" meal a month. I'm in the process of compiling my  list of dishes.  I'm hoping this gets me out of my cooking/eating rut and also helps me learn a bit more skill in the kitchen.  I created a board on Pinterest and hope to have 12 recipes collected by December 31, 2012.

In searching through the interwebs and more specifically Pinterest, to find these challenge recipes I stumbled across a really cool website - They Draw & Cook.  It has beautifully illustrated recipes.  I'm dying to try the Pumpkin Mousse.   I would also sort of love to have some of these as prints in my kitchen...someday when I have a kitchen.

Another good thing about this self-imposed challenge is that I'm trying out some recipes that I pinned - the simpler ones that are not challenge worthy.  Tonight's dinner was porkchops marinated in soy sauce, garlic and honey.  

Source: healthy-snack-recipe.blogspot.com via Alicia on Pinterest

The Pinterest link highlighted one of my many frustrations with Pinterest - it linked to little more than a picture.  To be fair, this one at least went to a website, but beyond saying what ingredients were used it wasn't very helpful - there were no measurements listed.  I took a guess on how much of the garlic (two heapng teasspoonfuls of the minced garlic), honey (about a teaspoon), and soy sauce (probably about 1/3-1/2 cup of the low sodium).  Marinade all day and yum!

Mine looked nothing like the pin, but it tasted wonderful.  I had cheesy broccoli as a side and froze the leftover chop.  Simple, yummy, filling and leftovers for a dinner yet this week.  See, there is a bonus to not living with your spouse - I get the leftovers.  :)

Just keep swimming

This is my motto lately.  I sort of feel like I can do nothing right. I can't seem to fit working out into my schedule.  Eating right just seems harder than usual.  It will pass...Right?

Anyway, everything that's been happening has made me want to expand the knowledge of my faith.  I am a Catholic convert.  I went through the RCIA program while in college.  While this was a really moving experience, there are a lot of basics that I just didn't get enough exposure to understand why we, as Catholics, do certain things and believe certain things.

First on my list is Confession.  I haven't been to confession since I converted.  I know I'm supposed to go more regularly than that, since I know I've sinned.  But I just don't understand why I must confess to a priest rather than pray on the matter and deal with it that way.  This is a constant struggle for me - things I know the Church requires and my own feelings on a matter.  I'm hoping that learning more will help resolve the internal struggle.

Progress on all fronts

In knitting news - I have both sleeves done for William the Weed jacket for my nephew.  I'll be starting on the body this weekend.  I'm so excited to try steeking...and so scared at the same time.

Also, I apologize in advance for future posts but suddenly it seems my life has become completely encompassed by wedding planning.  When did I lose my mind?  I never really thought much about wedding related stuff and suddenly it's all that comes to mind.

We have a date - note the new ticker/countdown.  We have the church reserved and now a reception site with caterer.  I'm getting to start thinking about wedding crafts, which is really what I'm looking forward to the most.  I don't want anything excessive but I'm hoping to complete shawls for each bridesmaid (two) and the groomsmaid (one) as well as myself.  If I find the time, I'm going to knit something for the mothers as well but that will be for later.

Also, I'm so stoked for our centerpieces.  The idea is still evolving but Michael thought of the greatest thing that is totally us.  A stack of antique looking books with vines "growing" around them.  We figure we'll start scouring thrift stores, yard sales, and ebay for some deals.

I'm just trying to not get stressed about it all.  This is supposed to be fun right?

Also - progress on the mini goals:

Step 1 - Drink at least 12 cups of water a day - Success

Step 2 - Complete one round of Power 90 - Today was Day 58.  I've been sporadic, but sticking with it.

Step 3 - Each small meals every 2-3 hours (at least 10g protein, no more than 40g carbs) - I'm not sure this is practical for me right now, but I'm trying

Step 4 - Don't eat within 2 hours of going to bed - Success

Step 5 - No more processed grains - So far, so good

Step 6 - At least one fruit or veggie with each meal - Two out of three meals. Progress

Step 7 - Get a minimum of 7 hours sleep. - Working on it still.

Things are happening in my little world.  So far I'm moving in the right direction!

The Blahs

I have been in a slump.  No time to knit, workout, or cook real meals.  I needed a change.  But let's be honest, change is really hard when your in a slump.  So three weeks ago I decided to make a plan to change in baby steps.  My goal is to get healthy and back into pre-law school shape.  So here's the plan:

Step 1 - Drink at least 12 cups of water a day 

Step 2 - Complete one round of Power 90 (90 days total - start in week 2)

Step 3 - Each small meals every 2-3 hours (at least 10g protein, no more than 40g carbs)

Step 4 - Don't eat within 2 hours of going to bed

Step 5 - No more processed grains

Step 6 - At least one fruit or veggie with each meal

Step 7 - Get a minimum of 7 hours sleep.

I'm hoping that with mini goals I can get the feeling of success to keep me motivated and start making them habits.  Each step is given one week to be completed.  I'm already on week three and I think I'm doing pretty good.

Wish me luck!

These are the Days of Our Lives...

Today has been one of those days...the type of days that make me wonder what I have accomplished in my life, and think not much actually.

This year I turn 28 years old. Fortunately, there is nothing overly significant about turning 28. I can already vote and drink; I've made it past the quarter century mark (25 was a surprisingly rough birthday for me); I'm not quite to the next decade; and being 40 is still a bit in the distance.

It's hard for me come to terms with the fact that I'm not 21 any more. I know I'm getting older, but I don't feel like any more of an adult that I did in my teens. I live alone, no pets that I can even call my own. I own a mini-futon, not even a real couch. My bed consists of a mattress and box-spring on the floor. My kitchen table is a folding card table, generally covered in paperwork, bits of mail, and a pop can or two. I still have clothes on my bedroom floor waiting to find their new home, folded laundry on my living room floor, waiting to be put away, next to my home phone and cable. I do own a TV but my "TV Stand" is decidedly college dorm. (The last was the observations of M last weekend as we cuddled up before falling asleep, an honest time for anyone.)

Wow, I sound like I need stuff to make me feel like an adult - hm, this may be the case. It's stuff that make a place feel like home. Pictures hanging on the wall, a couch with a blanket draped over the arm, pots and pans in cupboards (or wherever pots and pans should go), a pantry. Which just brought the realization: I want a home. I want to come home to something more than a Netflix movie and my laptop.

I want feel like a real adult, not someone floating through life. Somehow I always pictured myself having it all figured out by this point - or at least be on some sort of path.

Growing up is the pits.

Sweet 16...

Dear 16-year-old Alicia,

Lets get this out of the way early. Give BM more of a chance. He really is a nice guy and will learn to kiss with a bit of time. Do not date MW, he'll continue to get more into drugs and cheat on you in the end. Don't worry about the popular kids at school, in 2 years you'll have forgotten them entirely. Call your grandparents more often and don't grumble about going to Southern California to visit. You'll feel bad about it later. Also, make sure someone takes your picture in your cap and gown at graduation. Years later this will seem important.

As for College: go out more and explore your new home. You'll be in an awesome city, take better advantage of it. Do the touristy stuff then because you won't go back for a very long time. Don't RA your Senior, you'll resent not enjoying your last year in the city. The cell phone will be more trouble than it's worth. Wait a few years and it'll work out a lot better. Study abroad. Don't worry so much about meeting someone, he'll come along eventually and be completely worth the wait.

Life after college: You're living with your parents for a reason, don't spend so much damn money. Make exercise a routine, you'll never have more time than you do right now. Start looking for your own apartment as soon as you get to Milwaukee. You will enjoy law school more without the drama. Take ethics during your 2L year and take the MPRE in the fall of 3L. This will all make sense in 2006 so try and remember it. The Midwest is not at all what you think, but you'll love it anyway.

Things won't be anything like what you expect, but it'll be great anyway. Don't take yourself so seriously and remember to enjoy things as they happen.

Love,
26-year-old Alicia