Sunday, January 31, 2010

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
G.B. Stern
Sunday gratitude:
  • this is my 500th post! Giveaway to come... post-the 500th post!
  • having Ashley here all weekend to play.
  • Sudafed and my new Neti Pot to help relieve symptoms of my cold (fourth one this winter!).
  • appetizers for dinner.
  • Nick comes home from Orlando today!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Random: lacking any definite plan or order or purpose
  • My next post will be my 500th post. Holy camole! Look out for a giveaway (my first!).
  • Ashley arrives in St. Louis tonight!
  • It's SNOWING. Sorry, I'm from Florida. I think this will always be a novelty.
  • Although it isn't nice to say especially because of the children involved, I was glad to hear Brad and Angelina are separated. Vindication for Jennifer, take that!
  • I haven't had a Diet Coke (or any diet soda, for that matter) in 26 days. That's huge.
  • I follow the Big Ben Clock on Twitter. The only Tweets are when it goes "BONG BONG BONG" on the hour (with the correct number for the corresponding hour). Too funny.
  • I made Chicken piccata for the first time last night. I always love ordering it in restaurants but never tried to do it myself. I used Ina Garten's recipe and it was quite delicious with some whole wheat pasta and vegetables, thankyouverymuch.

Monday, January 25, 2010

A man's dying is more the survivors' affair than his own.
Thomas Mann

I'm putting a stamp on my second sympathy card sent out in the last two days. One for Nick's boss's father another for one his friend's father back home in Iowa.

I actually buy sympathy in packs of eight, I send them a lot because I know how nice it is to receive a note during a sad time. Often people just don't know what to say so they don't say anything at all. I think it is totally fine to write something simple, and I do, as well as including this piece that was given to me when my father died. Both my mom and I read it often and pass it along every chance we get.

I just wanted to share it and hope that it either is nice for you to read or print out to have on hand to send to someone when you don't know what to say.

I have only passed on to the other side.
I am me, and you are you.
What we were to each other, we still are.
Call me the name you have always called me.
Speak to me as you always have.
Don’t use a different tone.
Don’t be solemn or sad.
Keep laughing at the things we used to laugh at together…
Pray, smile, think of me, and pray with me.
That my name will be said at home, just as it always has
Without emphasis, without a trace of a shadow.
Life still signifies what it has always signified.
It is what it was always been; the thread has not been cut.
Why should I be out of your thoughts?
Simply because I am out of your sight?
I am not far away, just on the other side of the path…
You see, everything is okay…
You’ll rediscover my heart; you’ll rediscover my pure love.
Dry your tears, and don’t cry if you love me.
St. Augustine

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
G.B. Stern
Sunday gratitude:
  • Saturday afternoon walks with Nick.
  • Massachusetts!
  • taking a day at home to catch up on cleaning, laundry and organizing.
  • (finally) watching Pulp Fiction.
  • Ashley will be here in two days!

Friday, January 22, 2010

It is not what I see outside that makes my images,
it is what I feel on the inside that comes out.
Carolyn M D'Alessandro

Yay, my wedding photographer has a blog now!



Thursday, January 21, 2010

I think that women just have a primeval instinct to make soup, which they will try to foist on anybody who looks like a likely candidate.
Dylan Moran

On these chilly, dark winter nights not much sounds better for dinner than something warm from the Crock Pot. As my mother says, how can it not taste good after cooking for 8 hours?! So true.

So I've never made homemade soup so I thought I'd give it a whirl. This recipe was delicious! Husband tested and approved. Even for leftovers, after the broth soaked up a bit, it sort of turned into yummy, chicken casserole-type thing for lunch.

I highly recommend giving it a try!

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

8 cups water
2 cup carrot, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 cup celery, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
4 teaspoons salt (to taste)
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, to taste
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast (you can use a whole chicken if you like dark meat too)
2 cups frozen peas
3 cups noodles, uncooked (I used whole wheat egg noodles)

Directions

1. In 4-1/2 to 6-quart slow-cooker bowl, combine water, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, poultry seasoning, 4 t salt, 1/2 t pepper.
2. Place chicken on top of vegetables.
3. Cover slow cooker with lid and cook as manufacturer directs on low setting 8 to 10 hours or on high 4-5 hours.
4. Transfer chicken to bowl. Add noodles and frozen veggies to slow-cooker; cover with lid and cook (on low or high) 20 minutes.
5. While noodles cook, shred chicken
6. Skim fat from soup and discard. Return chicken to soup to serve.

Cooking after adding the noodles

Chicken all shredded up

Finished product - so delish!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Never shall I forget the days I spent with you.
Continue to be my friend, as you will always find me yours.
Ludwig Van Beethoven

I got a phone call from my friend Ashley (referred to here, here, here, here and here) to ask, "so, is St. Charles, Missouri near St. Louis?"

Um, yes. Right next door. Why?

"Great, because I'll be there on Tuesday for five days!"

Hooray - I'm just so excited! She is working for a client most of the week and then will spend the weekend with me. Nick will be out of town for a work convention so it will be a full girls weekend with my wonderful friend.

It is such a delightful and expected treat!

Me and Nick with Ashley and her husband during our trip to Vegas.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Hello, world, here's a song that we're singin'
C'mon get happy
The Partridge Family

Both Angie and Kathryn nicely passed along this cute award! Since I'm all about lists and things that make me happy, I couldn't resist to join in.


  1. List 10 things that make you happy.
  2. Tag 10 bloggers that brighten your day.
  3. If you are one of the 10 bloggers awarded, link back to my blog and continue brightening people's day!
And now for 10 things that make me happy:
  1. When Bella snuggles with Nick.
  2. Daily phone chats with my mom.
  3. Our backyard feeder full of birds.
  4. Toasted "everything' bagels with cream cheese.
  5. Watching four new Oprah episodes back to back on DVR.
  6. Wearing jeans to work on Friday.
  7. 20% off coupons at Bed, Bath and Beyond.
  8. My hounds tooth scarf.
  9. Scrapbooking again. I love seeing all my fun memories!
  10. Wearing tights with a skirt and heels.
Now for the 10 blogs that brighten my day (also love the two above!):
  1. Fabulous in the STL
  2. My Husband in Watching TV
  3. Good Friends, Good Food, Good Life
  4. More Than Mulberries
  5. First Comes Love
  6. History of the Harveys
  7. 3 Peanuts
  8. Old Southern House
  9. Rue's Peanut Butter and Jelly Life
  10. Perfectly Pleasant

Monday, January 18, 2010

We grow neither better nor worse as we get old,
but more like ourselves.

May Lamberton Becker

Last week, as I wrote, Nick and I went to see Up in The Air. Really loved it, great movie. Go see it if you haven't yet.

Nick was laughing so hard doing a monologue by Natalie, played by Anna Kendrick because it was pretty much me. And sometimes, you just have to laugh at your idiosyncrasies.

When I was sixteen, I thought by twenty three, I would be married, maybe have a kid…corner office by day, entertaining by night. I was supposed to be driving a Grand Cherokee by now.

Now I have my sights set on twenty nine, because thirty is just way too…apocalyptic.

Sometimes it feels like no matter how much success I have, it all won’t matter until I find the right guy. I could have made it work. He really just fit the bill.

You know, white collar. College grad. Loves dogs. Likes funny movies. Six foot one. Brown hair. Kind eyes. Works in finance but is outdoorsy, you know, on the weekends. I always imagined he would have a single syllable name like Matt or John…..or Dave. In a perfect world he drives Four Runner and the only thing he loves more than me is his Golden Lab. Oh…and a nice smile.


Except my one syllable love is Nick.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
G.B. Stern
Sunday gratitude:
  • finally a break in the bitter cold weather, a balmy high of about 45 degrees daily.
  • those little boxes roadside assistance that easily jump my car battery after I leave my lights on.
  • making new friendship connections with women here in St. Louis.
  • when Nick brings me dinner to work.
  • getting plans ready for our first Superbowl party!
 
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