Monthly Archives: March 2011

Absurdities

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I have a love/hate relationship with Kroger. Sometimes I’m really impressed with what they have to offer – totally free pasta, steep discounts on manager’s special filets of sell-by-today seafood or soda, four 12-can packs for $11 (that’s like $0.23 a can people!). And sometimes I leave totally stupefied by the absurdity of the things I have seen. Case in point – stickers. Kroger gets some sick, misguided satisfaction from their environmentally-friendly policy of planting a giant sticker that reads “Less plastic? Fantastic! Thanks! You saved a plastic bag!” on all large or bulky items you carry-out of the store as-is instead of having it placed in a plastic bag…….um, does any one else see the irony here?

Where oh where do I begin!? First of all, it is highly unlikely that anyone shopping at Kroger is thinking, “Whoa, Nelly! Let me get this straight: If I opt not to use a landfill-clogging plastic bag (that I always put in the plastic bag recycle bin anyway) for this economy-sized package of Soft N’ Fluffy toilet paper that doesn’t even fit in a plastic bag, I get, gasp!, a sticker!? YES!! This totally awesome sticker is so worth saving a plastic bag!” Like everybody else in this world, I too love stickers, but really and truly Kroger, nobody is that excited about your stickers that they’re willing to give up a plastic bag if they need one. The sticker does not entice me to use or not to use a plastic bag.

Secondly, can we take a moment to discuss the utter and complete waste of time, money, and materials that goes into these stickers? I’m nearly positive that the cost of their existence far exceeds any potential benefit they may provide to the environment. For example, today I purchased eight boxes of soda and two cartons of milk. If you’re counting, that’s ten stickers they gave me. TEN. One (or, you know, none) would have been a sufficient “thank you!” The bagger actually wasted about two minutes of her time carefully placing a sticker on every single box of soda and gallon of milk I bought. You know what I’m going to do with those stickers? That’s right! Open trash can, insert sticker. I honestly would not be in the least bit offended if I didn’t receive a single sticker on my bulk items.  At ten stickers a person, they must hand out millions every day! Millions of stickers that cost money (and, um, plastic) to produce. Millions of stickers – with plastic backings – that will end up in landfill. And all of this to promote saving plastic! I am in awe of the brilliance at work here. But on the plus side I saved $33.37 and ten plastic bags by shopping at Kroger today! Sheer. Excellence.

As previously promised I have a delicious recipe to share with you today! I yanked it out of a magazine some time ago and, in true Lara fashion, have added my own personal touches and edits to it. This is a recipe for Chinese chicken (I’m pretty sure it’s sponsored by Kraft & Jell-O – so I in no way take credit for it). It’s easy to make, fairly healthy, and every time we make it we’re always impressed by how potent the flavors are for so few ingredients. I brought leftovers of it to work yesterday and every single person who walked into the room took one sniff and promptly declared “Something smells amazing! What is that!?” So I thought I’d share the goodness.

Source

Chinese Takeout Lemon Chicken

  1. The chicken: Using the steaming method, bake about 1 lb. of fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts (or thighs if you prefer dark meat) in the oven. I lay them all out on a piece of tinfoil, tightly seal the tinfoil together to create a steamer bag, and throw them in the oven on a baking sheet at 425 degrees for 20 minutes. It comes out perfectly. Once done, cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
  2. The rice: I use Basmati Jasmine rice. You shouldn’t have a problem finding it at any local grocery store. It’s a white rice that’s often used in Thai and Indian dishes. It’s really mild rice that’s an excellent base for soaking in flavors like ginger, garlic, lemon and smoked mushrooms if you like to add a little more flavor to your dishes. Anyhow, I simmer 1 cup of the rice in 1.5 cups of salty water on the stove for 20 minutes and set it aside to keep warm.
  3. The sauce: In a small bowl mix together one small 4-oz. package of sugar-free lemon jello mix and 1 Tbsp. of cornstarch. Heat up 1/2 cup of chicken broth. Add the dry lemon jello and cornstarch mix to the broth and stir. Add 2 Tbsp. of Kraft’s light zesty Italian dressing and three cloves of minced fresh garlic to the broth. Stir well. If you want to get all fancy (and you do) you can even add a teaspoon of ground ginger paste for extra oomph.
  4. The veggies: Cut up two large handfuls of fresh sugar snap peas, one red bell pepper, and 1/2 a can of full baby corns into pieces. On medium-high heat, cook the veggies in a skillet on the stove for about 8 minutes in a little bit of spray oil, stirring constantly.
  5. Put it all together: Add the chicken and the sauce to the skillet of vegetables. Reduce heat to medium and stir together for about 5 minutes. Serve over the Jasmine rice.

This recipe is seriously delicious. There’s so few ingredients and it’s so simple to make – but the result is so tasty! If you’re keeping with the no meat during Fridays in Lent you can substitute the chicken for shrimp and I’m sure it would be just as delicious. Someone out there please try this and tell me about it so all my typing wasn’t in vain!

And finally, if you’re not over the whole reading thing yet, I have Day 3 of the photo blog challenge for you….tomorrow. Have a great Monday!

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What Saturdays Were Made For

I’ll start with thanking God and Ohio for the totally perfect weather yesterday. It couldn’t have been better if we’d designed the forecast ourselves! Low 60’s, sunny, and windy. Seriously beautiful in every way. So thank you powers-that-be for that refreshing goodness! We loved it!

Ted’s present on our wedding day was an I.O.U. with a due date of March 11, 2011. So Ted spent his Friday afternoon 99th in line at the ritzy Kenwood mall, stationed outside of the Apple store for four hours ready and waiting to welcome the iPad 2 into our family. There were over 1,000 people in line by the time the 5 pm release rolled around, but from all indications it sounds like they had a great time! He made friends with the people in line around him so he was in good company. They held one another’s place in line for bathroom, food and drink breaks, shared info on the latest iPad apps, and received Godiva chocolate samples, bottled water, and Gap 30% off coupons from the other stores in the mall. Apple closed the store at 4 pm to stock the shelves with the 9,000 new iPads and accompanying accessories and re-opened at 5 pm. Every person in line was individually brought into the store by their own personal Apple shopper’s assistant who walked the store with them, collecting their iPad and accessories and ringing them up by swiping their credit card on the iPhone. A totally brilliant way to control the impending madness and chaos so it doesn’t even have a chance to start! By 5:45 Ted had his new baby in hand and was out the door, anxious for me to arrive home from work so he could open it.

I came home to this sweet little display on our dining room table. Do you think he was excited?
The I.O.U. and the real deal!

He’s been attached to the new addition since Friday night, lovingly adding music, building folders, downloading apps, and enjoying all its fun features. I think anyone could easily admit it’s a nifty little genius of an invention.

Saturday morning we cooked a quick & dirty breakfast of scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, English muffins, and strawberries and blueberries before venturing to the quaint, historic downtown of Main St. Milford, OH which, for the record, is completely adorable.

We parked right on the charming Main St., which was lovely in part due to the absence of parking meters. Our first stop of the day was Bishop’s Bicycles, one of those home-grown “don’t make ’em like they used to” bicycle sales and repair places where the family dog greets you at the door and they encourage you take the bikes for a test drive in the park out back without holding your I.D. for ransom just in case you feel compelled to forget to return it. They had a nice selection of Schwinn’s, Jamis’, and a few other reputable brands, along with a slew of helmets, handlebars, bells, baskets, insulated water bottles, and other biking gear. I tried out two bikes, honestly grateful to be able to still ride a bike after 13 years without immediately nosediving into the pavement, and got a better idea for what style, frame size, and brands I might be interested in for when the time comes to purchase my own. This place is definitely one we’d love to use for future bicycle repairs and maybe to buy mine. They even had tandem bicycles. I love how vintage chic tandem bikes are!

Our next visit was to Common Cents Coins & Collectibles. Ted is a coin and note enthusiast – he loves rare, old, and unusual money. Naturally, we had to go into this store! He instantly spotted a note he’s been searching for for years, a $10 Andrew Jackson note for the cool price of $115. We didn’t get it, obviously, but it was neat to see. Meanwhile I examined over-sized $500 and $1,000 bills (which I didn’t even know used to exist!) and various silver dollars.

The next store on the street, The Coolest Toys on Earth, was the store we really came to Milford to explore. Someone at work told Ted about it, so as we were searching for its location on the iPad, we lucked out and realized there were other neat stores on Main St. as well. This tiny store was choc full of knickknacks, puzzles, games, gadgets, and old-fashioned toys. My favorites in the store were the snap firecrackers, air propellers, ant farms, kites, sweet old crank music boxes, and a wooden puzzle gamed called Over the Moon. They had lots of “samples” of all the toys out so you could play with nearly everything! We left with a foil bag of airtight freeze-dried mint chocolate chip astronaut ice cream, which actually tastes just like normal ice cream, if you can get past the foamy texture.

For lunch we stopped at Quiznos for sammie’s, just like we used to do when we lived in Lansing. I’d forgotten how delicious Quiznos sammie’s are! Does anybody else remember the old Quiznos commercials with the weird little singing monster with the scratchy voice? “They got a pepper bar!” My friends and I spent the better part of our high school years perfecting our vocal mimicking of it. What the heck was that thing anyway, and why on Earth did they think this creature would be a good mascot for a sandwich shop? Though clearly we still remember the commercials after all these years, so obviously the oddball served its purpose.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhfcdqMTtU4]

And just try to keep me out of an establishment called the Sugar Cupcakery! Visit their swoon-worthy website here! They make the most delectable cupcakes ever! For a treat, they are simply amazing and the icing is so creamy it nearly melts in your mouth! I had the whiskey butterscotch and chocolate orange. Yes, they really are as good as they look. Your drooling is justified.

I was inspired by the Sugar Cupcakery’s original flavors like chocolate stout (with Guinness baked into the batter!), banana caramel, and lemon raspberry to imagine some ideas of my own for scrumptious cupcakes I’d like to make one day: chai caramel, orange amaretto, lemon lavender, green tea cream cheese, German chocolate Andes mint, and butterscotch pistachio. Maybe I should open my own little niche restaurant and bakery with a select menu of my specialties and favorite dishes.

After we left Milford we drove through the phenomenally wealthy and outright gorgeous suburb of Indian Hill oogling over the house’s we’ll never live in. The land looks like it’s out in the country, hilly and curvy, and the mansions are truly stunning. Then we drove past a fenced in yard full of these:

Why, yes, those are furry longhorns in the middle of the ritziest neighborhood in Ohio. We couldn’t help but pull over on the one-lane narrow road to take a closer look and laugh. I mean, these guys rock, but they look so out of place! This is literally the last place I’d ever expect to see them – among the pools, manicured lawns, 5-car garages, and 19 room villas.

We went to Saturday evening mass, I made a fantastic Chinese chicken recipe for dinner (that I plan to share with you all tomorrow!), and we cuddled up on the couch to catch-up on last week’s episode of Big Bang Theory. What a great Saturday! Hope your was just as wonderful!

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The Blessings of Everyday Life

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Snow. Whhhhhyyyyyyyyyy!?

Yesterday afternoon Ted and a friend of his at CCM were walking toward the doors getting ready to leave and saw it was snowing out. Ted was thrilled, obviously. He told the guy he was walking with that Lara must not have left work and walked outside yet because I hadn’t texted him “it’s snowing.” A few seconds later my text message arrived – “it’s snowing.” I’m certain nobody in this fair city was more shocked or disappointed than myself to see those ominous white snow fluffs cascading from the sky yesterday. It’s March, Cincinnati. What gives!? I’m cold, the squirrels are cold, and my windshield is a sheet of ice. I’d already geared myself up for a warm spring. I put away my snow boots and snow brush for the season, I’ve dug out my short-sleeved shirts, and mentally I’m so past snow that it’s causing heartbreaking, toxic levels of anguish. What a cruel trick. That Puxatony Phil is getting senile in his old age.

Anyhow, after I’d collected my jaw from the ground, regained some dignity, trudged to my car (shivering the whole way), and picked up Ted from CCM, we drove (in the snow) to the little suburb of Milford, about 15 minutes from where we live in Anderson. Two days ago at work I’d scored free passes for two to a sneak pre-screening of the movie Paul, which opens next week sometime, I think. I guess the Museum somehow got hold of a few of these passes and decided our staff was either the weirdest or most creative of the bunch and that we’d likely appreciate free tickets to an alien movie. Um, I don’t know about you, but I appreciate free anything. And since we both had the evening off and neither of us had ever been to a pre-screening of a not-yet-released film before, we decided not to watch any movie trailers of it and just go with the flow and be surprised. The theatre was packed full, but the movie about two British comic book nerds road tripping across America when they find and attempt to save a smart-talking alien from the U.S. government was really funny (if you don’t mind aliens or flicks riddled with foul language, sexual innuendo, and all manner of other non-PC things that find their way into R-rated films, that is.) We had a great time. Definitely worth free!

The museum, it seems, has been handing out goodies to me left and right. Two free admission movie tickets, two coupons for free scoops of Graeter’s ice cream (um, that alone is worth working there), and yesterday the Egyptian curator of the Cleopatra exhibit where I sometimes work wrote my name in hieroglyphics for me! I like jobs with perks. But who doesn’t? Before I sign off, I’ll leave you with days 2 of the blog challenge:

Day 2 – A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest.

This is a picture of me and my friend Katie at the state fair in Dallas in 2006.

We met in 9th grade – our first year of schooling in Boerne. At this time 9th grade was still housed on the middle school campuses. We were both new to the area and didn’t really know anybody. We were in the same ludicrous P.E. class and bonded over our hatred of dodge ball and running timed laps. I accidentally clocked her in the face with a frisbee one period (I’ve never claimed to excel at sports or anything else that requires depth perception), so we spent that class in the nurse’s office – which was definitely preferable to feigning our ability to play dodge ball and hiding at every opportunity. During high school we avoided school pep rallies, had Burger King and snow cone dates, and we laid out at her pool in the afternoons sunning ourselves and feverishly swatting away wasps. She always came to see the plays I was in or directed and we were in a musical and a dreadful home economics class together. We went on a very memorable and adventurous aquatic science class trip during the summer of our junior year with about 15 other classmates in which we earned a full semester’s science credit, bathed in highly toxic Deet bug spray, counted our freshly acquired mosquito bites nightly, camped out in tents on the beach, studied marine life and sea creatures, pranced like ravenous monkeys to avoid the invisible ghost crabs on the beaches, drove across Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida in hellish white vans, enjoyed beautiful sunsets, and ate soggy sandwiches and poptarts at flooded campsites for two weeks straight. It was a blast! I think some of our funniest and fondest memories together are from those two miserable and simultaneously joyous weeks.

Though we lived hours apart in college, we still stayed close with numerous phone calls and cards. We’d send each other emails, snail mail letters and funny cards with long messages scribbled in colored ink whenever possible. I road tripped to Dallas for a few days for the state fair and her 21st birthday and visited again the following spring break. Recently we were bridesmaids in each other’s weddings and even with a handsome new baby she traveled all the way to Wisconsin for mine! We share a love of books, snow cones, sarcasm, Gilmore Girls, and a severe fear of scorpions and spiders (actually, bugs in general). She’s one of those special friends that no matter how far away we live from each other, no matter how long it has been  since we last saw each other, we’ll always be close and we’ll always be there for one another – the connection just picks right back up like no time or distance had ever elapsed between us. Today is her 25th birthday (Happy birthday Katie!) so it’s a coincidentally appropriate day for this particular blog topic.

P.S. – Today Ted gets his iPad 2 – my wedding gift to him. To say he’s excited is an extreme understatement. He’s been standing in line at the Apple store at Kenwood since 1 p.m. waiting for its official 5 p.m. release. He was 99th in a line of over 1,000. More updates on the new addition this weekend!

P.P.S. – The director of the ill-fated Spiderman production was fired. You all knew this was coming…this show definitely needed a fresh start, or at least some other major uprising to finally cut the shenanigans and kick it into gear. I’m all for supporting something as awesome as this Spiderman project, but at some point if it’s just not working, they need to cut the crap and make some serious changes until they find a way to make it work. Check out this short, funny news-story about it here.

And finally be thankful for every day you’re blessed with! That earthquake and tsunami in Japan really makes you think. We’re so blessed to have been given another day in this world! Thoughts & prayers are with Japan.

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An Eclectic Assortment

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I came across this gem of an article:  The 20 Worst Drinks in America. I was rightfully intrigued and after scanning the online pages of this epic social news story, the thought that popped into my head was, “Seriously!?”  It’s so easy to blame the manufacturer’s for products like this. After all, who really thinks mass producing a single beverage worth an entire day’s allotment of calories, fat and sugar is a good idea? But I think it’s more the consumer’s fault than anything else. Are Americans seriously that ignorant or incapable of glancing at the nutrition label, pinpointing such tidbits as “10% fruit juice” or “340 calories” and comprehending that this might not be the best choice for themselves or their child? Regardless, it’s a really interesting read if you’re up for some jaw-dropping statistics.

Yesterday at work, in celebration of Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras, CMC hosted a chili cookoff. I intended to enter the competition myself, but thought better of it over the weekend after considering the time and (albeit minimal) extra cash it would take for me to cook up a crock pot of my fresh chili. I also assumed it would be a waste of effort, as I’m not a master chef by any means and my creation would most likely get knocked clear out of the water by the competition. Let this be a lesson in self-confidence. Next time I won’t be so timid about putting myself out there for stuff like this, because most of the chili dishes there were plainly lackluster in flavor or downright frightening in texture. I’m fairly positive I could have smoked the competition. I truly wasn’t that impressed with any of the entries, though there were one or two yummy options. The free lunch meal was catered by (who else?) Skyline Chili and there was even some Mardi Gras King’s Cake for dessert. Not too shabby for a Tuesday lunch hour. Though I’ve had a craving for a bowl of my own creamy chili and a slab of cornbread ever since. Oh, well. There will be more chili cookoffs to obliterate the pants off of in my lifetime.

And now, as promised, the 30 day photo blog challenge.

Day 1 – A picture of yourself with ten facts about you.

  1. This photo was taken at the Old Globe Theatre in London before the showing of an abysmal performance of Othello during my summer 2007 Shakespeare performance and academic intensive study abroad program in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. I was 20 years old and so happy with this opportunity and with my life. It was a fantastic adventure and I have amazing memories from this trip. I count this as one of the most life-changing moments I have ever experienced. In an instant I knew what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.
  2. Despite my appreciation for and delight in tasting all kinds of foods from gourmet to ethnic, I truly love macaroni and cheese. If a restaurant has it, I will order it. I am a mac n’ cheese connoisseur and have rarely met a mac n’ cheese I didn’t like.
  3. I was born on the 66th anniversary of women’s suffrage. Naturally, I believe in the ability of women to be great leaders and I aspire to be a great woman in my own way.
  4. I have two dream careers: to be an travel and adventure writer or novelist and playwright, and to sing, dance and act professionally in the ensemble of nationally touring productions. Lofty much?
  5. I am the crazy cat lady. I know – and I feel no shame. I have adored every one of my felines from Rufus to Sancho and my entire being lights up every time I catch a glimpse of a cat. I have a special affinity for homeless adult cats, orange tabbies, and disabled cats (blind, deaf, diabetic, missing legs, eyeless, etc.) I cannot be taken into pet stores with cats that are up for adoption because I leave in a fit of tears. I definitely like cats more than most humans.
  6. The 1930s-1940s are my favorite decades style wise. I am absolutely inspired by the music, fashion, hair & makeup, and the lifestyle of that era. If I could I would immediately time travel back to that time period for a week.
  7. I cannot wink, whistle, raise one eyebrow, roll my tongue into a taco, or wiggle my nose or ears. Clearly my talents do not lie in the visual amusement department.
  8. I HATE the color pink with a passion. I do not own anything pink and I adamantly refuse to wear such a hideous color.
  9. I never played a sport growing up. This hasn’t scarred me for life in any way, but I kind of wish I had attempted participation in a sport other than trampoline jumping and pogo sticking at least once during my childhood. Though thanks to gymnastic I can still do the splits!
  10. I have ziplined across a jungle in Jamaica, kissed a stingray in the waters of the Caribbean, played in the snow in Canada, drank margaritas on a beach in Mexico, climbed the Great Wall of China, soaked in Iceland’s Blue Lagoon beneath the northern lights, sailed the seas on a cruise ship, seen the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum, studied Shakespeare in England, picked strawberries and explored a salt mine in Germany, enjoyed the tremendous hospitality of the ex-head of Hungary’s military and his lovely wife in their home near Budapest, dined on chocolate covered grasshopper in Japan, and skipped through castles and along the filming trail of The Sound of Music in Austria. I am incredibly blessed.
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See a penny, pick it up

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Why? It’s a penny. That kind of frugality only goes so far. Are you really going to waste your time and dirty your digits picking up pennies that will take years to amount to anything more than a stupid pile of copper?

Yes.

How did you finance your latest must-have? Did you budget accordingly and save your hard earned cash specifically for that big ticket item or did you splurge unexpectedly then question how you were going to dig yourself out of the impulsive monetary failure of a hole you spent your way into? No matter how you made it happen, finding the bucks for the “wants” in life is challenging when the “needs” clearly come first. When you’re low on funds and seem to lose every last cent to the basic living necessities, what’s the first thing to go from your budget? The exotic overseas vacation you’ve been dreaming of? The romantic weekend getaway? Dining out and date nights? Entertainment? Items you’ve been swooning over? Yes. All of the above. I’d say a safe home, heat and electricity, decent eats, insurance, and a debt-free lifestyle are definitely priorities over camping gear and adventurous excursions. The things you long to have and do get pushed aside so often, and really, what can you do about it other than accept it or change it?

Ted’s a fanatic about snapping up loose change he spots on the ground. He has an eye for scanning the ground until he spies discarded pennies, dropped nickles, runaway dimes and misplaced quarters. On any given day he comes home with a small handful of coins that we call “playstations,” lovingly nicknamed for the playstation we dreamed of one day purchasing with all these acquired monies long before we were married. Pennies are the most common, though on occasion, he’s found quarters and dollar bills as well just by keeping his eyes peeled. He keeps all the coins he finds in milk jugs and juice bottles. Last year he cashed them in at the bank for bills and it had accumulated to – wait for it – over $700! $700!!! That’s no insignificant hunk of change. In fact, that’s a pretty extravagant wad of dough! Think of all the things you could do with $700! And all of it from money you didn’t miss from your paycheck or budget because you found it laying on the ground. It requires patience, but what an easy way to bag that vacation or new toy! Another way to come by extra coinage is to pay for things in cash and when you get change back, make it a habit to plunk it in the old milk jug.

For our wedding we registered for a bunch of neat camping gear – sleeping bags, a tent, lantern, campfire cooking gear, a cooler, portable grill, hammock, etc. Sadly, that registry wasn’t as popular as we’d hoped. I suppose because most people assume registries are a “bride’s thing” so they opt for cooking essentials, bakewear, and decorative items over the more “manly” items – though we both wanted and picked out the camping items together, it wasn’t just a Ted thing. We were kindly gifted cash from many of our guests, but we’ve decided to use that money on experiences (read: travel and adventure together) rather than using it to purchase material goods for our home. There’s an expression that goes something along the lines of people who spend their money on experiences instead of material objects are happier. I agree. So that’s what we’re doing. But that still leaves us without our much desired camping gear that we would use on these said travels and adventures together. It would cost us several hundred dollars to get everything we need – and that’s several hundred dollars we’re not likely to have anytime in the near future. However, our “playstation” jugs are already at nearly $100. Between keeping a watchful eye out for homeless or neglected change and relying on cash more often and then saving the change, I think we can afford our camping gear before the year’s over. Not bad for doing practically nothing other than stooping over a few times a day. All in a year’s work!

In other news (other than the news of the world’s youngest grandmother at the age of 23. Scary, right!?), I’ve decided to take part in the 30 Day Picture Blog Challenge. Yes, I’ve succumbed to the popularity of this blogosphere fad. Be on the lookout for it in my next post. I’ve Redboxed Morning Glory so I’m off to make a hot cup of relaxing chai and enjoy a movie starring Rachel McAdams, who just so happens to be one of my favorite actresses. Good night!

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The Un-To-Do List

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Instead of spending this fine Monday delving into the typical novel of a blog post I’m accustomed to and everyone has, undoubtedly, come to expect from me, I thought I’d switch things up today with a short, simple post of lists. Your welcome.

5 things I bypassed in the grocery store this morning in an attempt to lower our bill by purchasing only the items we need:

  • Crepe wrappers
  • Chinese sprouts
  • Woodchuck hard cider on sale
  • A gourmet cupcake
  • Fresh flowers

(You know you’re impressed with my willpower for not snatching up the last 3! I am too.)

5 things I did enjoy buying and will even more enjoy turning into delicious meals:

  • Fresh salmon
  • Fresh strips of steak for stir-frying
  • Fresh lemon
  • Fresh dill
  • Fresh snap sugar peas

5 favorite television shows of the spring season (as I eagerly await the return of Hell’s Kitchen):

  • Modern Family
  • Big Bang Theory
  • House
  • Bleep My Dad Says
  • Mike & Molly

(Sorry How I Met Your Mother, American Idol, and The Office fans, I just cant get into that lameness. And we all know my feelings on the obnoxiousness that is Glee.)

5 things I’m loving about today

  • Sleeping in this morning beneath our cozy comforter with sunlight streaming through the windows
  • A clean, fresh smelling house
  • Painting my nails, sipping some wine and indulging in Monday night TV
  • The scent of my favorite-smelling candle ever (Volcano Capri Blue hand-poured candle from Anthropologie)
  • A day of quiet. At home, alone with no music or people or any other kind of racket except the swish of the washer and the birds chirping. Aaaaah.

5 productive things I’m doing on my day off

  • Laundry – clothing, bedding, and towels. I love how soft and fresh clean laundry smells!
  • Cleaning the house – adios dust bunnies!
  • Grocery shopping – I reduced this week’s bill by 50%!
  • Mending a pair of black pants I’ve been needing to fix for at least six weeks
  • Sorting receipts

I hope you find something to enjoy about your Monday too!

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Rapids & Royals

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The Rhyner Rapids are officially open for the season in our backyard. The fire pit is completely invisible somewhere beneath the murky swirling river that flows downhill from the top of our driveway and directly deposits in the lake that’s formed smack in the shallow valley between our property and our neighbor’s. Our garage is a several inch pond of standing water again and the Ohio river is expected to reach flood level sometime this weekend. Welcome to Spring!

On my way to work yesterday morning I drove down Beechmont, as I do everyday, until I reached the Mt. Washington neighborhood where a thin cloud of black smoke was beginning to form in the atmosphere. I looked to my immediate right and saw an apartment building in flames consuming all 3 floors on the backside of the building. One ambulance and one firetruck were already on scene, but clearly the fire had just started as the water hoses weren’t even going yet and people were coming out of their businesses to help. A fire doubles every 4 seconds. Within the next three or so miles of my drive I pulled to the right for at least 15 additional emergency vehicles as they came blazing down the street, sirens roaring and lights flashing. It was insane. The fire got me thinking about the dire importance of renter’s insurance and emergency kits for the unexpected disasters you never hope to have. We have adequate renter’s insurance, but after unpacking and surveying all our belongings over the past few months, I’d feel much more comfortable with an additional $25K of coverage. It would only cost a few dollars more per month, which seems like a tight squeeze right now, but I know we’d be thankful to have it if we should find ourselves in an emergency situation where mostly everything will need to be replaced.

Something we don’t have is an emergency kit – in the house or in the car. I’ve thought about it several times recently – when the weather is severe, when the tornado sirens are blaring at 5:20 a.m., during snow storms when we’re on the road, and when fires break out. And it really is something we should have in the house and in both vehicles – especially if you live with someone with serious medical concerns. What would you put in yours? I’m thinking we’d start with the basics:  LED flashlights with extra batteries, a headlamp, blankets, waterproof ponchos, hand and foot warmers, a battery-operated weather radio, a multi-purpose tool like a Leatherman, rope, a lighter, a first-aide kit, pure disinfectant alcohol, bottle of hand sanitizer, water bottles, non-perishable foods, an extra pack of AAA batteries for Ted’s insulin pump, two infusion sets, a vile of insulin, syringes, a backup blood sugar meter with test strips, emergency sugar (candy, orange juice, etc.), a manual can opener, heavy work gloves, toilet paper, trash bags, whistles, a permanent marker & square of cardboard, flash powder, and sunscreen and bug spray. I’m sure this is just the tip of the emergency kit iceberg, but I do think every family should have a kit like this at home and on the road. One of these days we’ll actually get around to throwing something together.

Onto a cheerier topic! Prince William & Kate (excuse me, Catherine) Middleton’s Royal Wedding Website was posted late this week! Yes, I was jubilant with excitement as one could be and immediately jumped on the bandwagon of the 2 million plus hits the website received in its first few hours of going live. Hit it up at www.officialroyalwedding2011.org to clue yourself in on all the lavish goodies like the hideously-patterned commemorative royal wedding china (it totally reminds me of a nursing home), the ceremony at Westminster Abbey and reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by the Queen (you know, just like any other normal wedding), how to properly address a formal letter to the Queen (it’s a hoot!), and the names and ages of the miniature Master’s, Lady’s, The Honorary’s, and Miss’s who will be gracing the wedding celebration with their presence as members of the wedding party – all before they’ve completed the second grade. Missing are the juicy details of the bride’s dress (duh), the decorative theme, the menu, and pretty much all the other good stuff you actually cared to know about. Though with Kate’s grace and style I bet it’s all going to be fabulous! I think she’s a pretty classy lady. I guess that’s to be expected and we’ll just have to wait until the I-Do day on April 29th for all the big reveals – for which there will be live video coverage streaming on the website and I do fully intend to watch it.

If you’re looking for something entertaining to watch this weekend, consider tuning into this Sunday evening’s episode of Undercover Boss in which the Mayor of Cincinnati goes undercover as an employee of the city of Cincy to collect garbage, scrape dead animals off the road, write traffic tickets, and more. He’s a pretty distinguishable fellow in the looks, personality, and popularity department not just in Cincy, but among all U.S. Mayors, so they had quite the challenge in disguising him to be an average Joe. I’m looking forward to watching to learn more about the inner workings of the City of Cincy government, to see landmarks, streets, areas of town and buildings I may recognize, and also because it’s really a neat show. Check it out this Sunday night!

Ted and I are will be enjoying our day off together – swimming to our errand destinations, slow cooking some babyback ribs for dinner tonight with lime and salt roasted corn and watermelon, and knocking off a few chores. Have a great weekend!

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For Your Entertainment Pleasure

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As I’ve mentioned before, I’m an avid reader. I love non-fiction, historical fiction, and especially memoirs. I’ve read 25+ memoirs in the past two years and have thoroughly enjoyed most of them. Most recently my book source has been the good old library – what a classic! I also love a good movie, some brilliant technology, and I relish in the delight of a savory meal. Who doesn’t? Today, I’d like to share some of my recent favorites with the loyal readership.

Books

The River Queen: A Memoir by Mary Morris is my latest indulgence. To be honest, I’m not even finished reading it yet, but already I find myself happily lost inside her pages and I hate putting it down. I spied the intriguing cover while randomly scanning the library shelves and thought it looked simultaneously adventurous and peaceful. Sadly, this “judging a book by its cover” method of selection, while unfair, does sometimes help to narrow down the choices. Upon reading the dust jacket’s synopsis about Mary’s self-recalled travels down the Mississippi River on a run-down houseboat with two gruff yet lovable river rats named Tom and Jerry and a snappy diva pup called Samantha Jean in attempt to memorialize and understand the life of her Mississippi-loving centenarian father in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, I wondered if I would like this book or if I’d be in over my head with incomprehensible boater’s language and deep, brooding musings. But so far I’ve been hooked on her adventures and loving every word. What a great read to jump into Spring with! It’s wild without being overwhelming and thoughtful without being pretentious. I’m seriously jealous I’m not navigating the Mississippi on a houseboat and listening to toe-tapping Jazz tunes too! This is one book you want to dive into ASAP.

This gem was another happenstance library find. An eye-catching cover really can be equally as important of an advertising medium as press releases, rave reviews, and an enthralling summary. Lucky Girl: A Memoir by Mei-Ling Hopgood reveals Taiwan-born Mei-Ling’s life as an all-American girl, raised by a sweet nun in a hospital for the first several months of her life before her adoption by a loving U.S. couple. At the age of 22, with the help of the very same nun who cared for her in her infancy, Mei-Ling learns her large birth family is anxious to meet her. She is showered with phone calls, emails and faxes until she agrees to travel to Taiwan where she meets her biological parents and countless siblings. She recounts how she learned bits of the Mandarin language, became entangled in her family’s loud, chaotic world, and discovered the history behind her own adoption while I happily found myself wrapped in descriptions of sumptuous Chinese delicacies and scarring family secrets.  This memoir provides a refreshing, fascinating look into the life and culture of a very traditional Taiwanese family and the very American girl biologically tied to them. I desperately longed to travel and craved Chinese dumplings for days after I finished this great book. Both intense and lighthearted, this discovery tale is another must-read!

Movies

This 2009 Oscar-nominated, award-winning flick is breathtaking. I borrowed it from the library on a whim because it was displayed in the newly released section and, frankly, it looked like it was right up my alley – an eclectic mix of funky and classic. I wasn’t expecting something quite so poignant, uplifting or heartbreaking. An Education is a coming-of-age story about a sheltered British schoolgirl in the 1960s intent on securing her admission to a top University until she meets a dashing, wealthy, worldly, and sweet man nearly twice her age who sweeps her off her feet. He buys her beautiful clothes, inducts her into his social circle, takes her to Paris, and introduces her the literature, culture and lifestyle she craves. But this handsome gentleman has a few secrets up his sleeve as well. I really loved the story and I adored the stylish music, clothing, and hair and makeup. The acting is beautiful and I think nearly everyone can identify with the heroine’s hunger for travel, knowledge, wisdom, and a world beyond her reach. Please rent this movie. Both fun and emotional – you won’t be disappointed.

That about wraps up my recommendations. All three are great choices and you’d be a fool to let them pass you by. Did you catch Apple’s iPad 2 release announcement today? It was pretty epic! The specs and built-in goodies for the new generation of the iPad are swoon-worthy. I know Ted is really looking forward to placing an order for his customized prize on March 11th and I’m excited to eventually (in a few years time, that is) receive it as a hand-me-down when he upgrades! Isn’t technology amazing? How can something so thin, so lightweight, and so sleek be so powerful, contain 2 cameras, and boast 10 hours worth of battery life? I’m not even getting into the countless things it can actually do or the 65,000 app options. For Ted, this is a perfect gift. He can always have his work, calendars, and lists with him which, for a lighting-designer on the move, is key. Plus there are applications for the iPad that sync with popular lighting boards and lighting paperwork programs, and when he’s worn out from all that work at his fingertips, he can watch a movie, surf the web, play games, or listen to some tunes on it. We’re excited about his new addition!

Tonight after work we dined at a dark, loud, hearty Irish pub appropriately and simply named The Pub in the trendy neighborhood of Norwood. It came highly and immediately recommended by both my co-worker and Ted’s co-worker as a great place to relax with delicious eats and plentiful drinks. It did not disappoint! I opted for a four beer sampler of three English ales and one cider while Ted drank Strongbow Cider – one of our favorites!

The food was amazing too! A high class, flavorful pub grub menu teeming with English and Irish specialties like Fish N’ Chips with salt and malt vinegar, Bangers N’ Mash, Shepherd’s Pie, a prime rib au jus pretzel sandwich, fried pickles, calamari, pumpkin soup, lamb dishes, and salmon flatbread. This is definitely a welcome restaurant discovery and a great place to meet with friends and family! Hope your hump day was just as fulfilling as ours!

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Mental Health Day

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Blog slacker alert! I’ve been blogging less often than usual this week, dropping down to every other day lately instead of daily – I know. Hope I’m not losing my readers – bear with me! I don’t mean to skimp, but any time Ted is actually home on the evenings or weekends, my time is his and I’m devoted to attending to him instead of my computer.

We’ve had an eventful few days. Sunday night we had a pretty big storm that passed through Cincinnati – complete with pounding rains, high winds, booming thunder and an intense, hours-long lightning show. The volume of the rain and thunder woke me Monday morning at about 5:30. The lightening was so bright that I couldn’t get back to sleep. As soon as I’d settled myself beneath our comforter again intent on sleeping, my eyes properly shielded from the frequent lightning strokes, the tornado sirens went off. We rolled out of bed and briefly ventured down to the safety of our (still wet) basement. The sirens didn’t last long and there really wasn’t a tornado. It was just Cincy’s way of warning its citizens of basic inclement weather in the middle of the night. However, it was long enough to jolt us out of our sleep and keep us awake for a good 45 minutes. Worst part was that Ted had to wake up for his physical therapy appointment about 20 minutes later.

When I did eventually slip back to sleep, I awoke with the strangest dream I’ve possibly ever had floating through my memory. One of two thoughts entered my mind – A) What the heck did I eat last night!? B) Back-sleeping and storms are a notoriously oddball dream combination for me. I apparently need to stop sleeping on my back, especially during thunderstorms. When Ted got home from his PT appointment I couldn’t wait to tell him about the 23 pink piggies in our backyard wearing Spurs basketball jerseys (yes, they were clothed. In Spurs jerseys no less.) that I dreamed about. I told you. Weird.

This morning Ted had his knee surgery at Mercy Anderson hospital. We played hookey from work and spent our morning at the hospital and the afternoon laying low and relaxing together. From my vantage point (since I’m not the one who had the surgery), it was a really nice day together. I’ve never been through a surgery prep and it was really interesting to be there through it all – to see all the equipment, the monitors, the anesthesia, and the pre-op check list and questions they have to complete. Ted’s pre-op doctors were great, very funny and very attentive. It was a fairly non-invasive 30-minute surgery with about a 45 minute recovery period. They gave him crutches and that was that. He could put full weight on his knee right after the surgery, so the crutches are mainly for balance and to help him stay off his leg a little. But his leg is sore and wrapped up pretty good. Since he couldn’t eat or drink anything since midnight the night before his surgery, we immediately headed to Ihop for food after the hospital. Turns out it was free pancake day! Score for us! We have excellent timing. I grabbed a treat (a strawberry limeade at Sonic!) and we caught a 5:00 showing of The Dilemma at the cheap-o movie theatre near home (it was $1.75 admission Tuesday!). I got Ted all settled in at home and went to fetch Mexican carry-out for dinner. It was a really nice, relaxing, well-deserved day together and Ted is recovering nicely. But tomorrow it’s back to the grind of daily life – work for both of us. Every now and then you just need to take a mental (and physical) health day, don’t you think?

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