Downton Abbey

Are any of yall watching Downton Abbey on PBS's Masterpiece Theater?  I am a sucker for these kind of things.  They are my guilty pleasure that few people know about me.  But I guess the cat is out of the bag now! 

Anyways, I have heard good things about this series.  Unfortunately I missed the initial episode, so I am pretty bummed about that.  But I am also so happily surprised because Netflix will have it available for streaming video on 2/9.  So I don't have to wait too long. Hooray!

Image via PBS

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Feeling good

I am feeling good this Friday... all the way to my toes.

 

I just wrapped up my first week at my new job.  Even though I am only a week into our new routine, I am amazed by how well it is going and how different it is from the last time I worked outside of them home.  I feel balanced and calm.  If I had to put my finger on one thing that is making this experience so great, it would be people that I am surrounding myself with - our wonderful nanny, my colleagues at work that are fun to be around, and those close friends that I know I could call in a pinch.  

Yep, life is moving along awesomely.  And even though life tried to throw us a curve ball this week by giving both David and Little B a cold, we did great.  A setback that in the past would have forced me to stay home from work instead was a small hiccup.  And no more worries about how Little B is being cared for and if she is eating all of her food or if she is napping well.  I know she is.  It is amazing how not having those worries gives me so much of my energy back.

I am grateful for all of this because I know that it is not always that easy.

Now I am off to knock on some wood - don't want to jinx anything!

Image via Mary Ruffle

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Say Cheese

Whenever I pull out the camera these days with Little B, she is quite the ham.  Never sitting still and throwing me all sorts of funny faces.

This pose is always a crowd pleaser.

This is her "fake - say - cheese" smile.  She squints her eyes on purpose.  I wonder if it is because my eyes squint when I smile.  Who knows!

And if I catch her off guard, I can sometimes get a real grin.  My favorite.

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From my bookshelf: One Thousand White Women

One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

One Thousand White Women is a fictional account of what could have happened.  In 1875 (in actual history), the Chief of a Cheyenne Indian tribe came to Washington DC to ask President Ulysses S. Grant to trade 1000 white women and brides for 1000 wild horses.  The thought was that the "mixed babies" from these women would be better accepted into white civilization, thus bridging the gap between the whites and the Indians.  In history, the President denies this proposal.  But this story takes it the other direction - what if the President said yes.

The story's main character is Mary Dodd.  After being committed to an asylum for being promiscuous, she "volunteers" to be one of the Indian brides.  After the horrible months in the asylum, she figures that the Indians are the lesser of the two evils.  Her agreed upon contract states that she must be an "Indian bride" for 2 years and after that she is allowed to do whatever she likes.  So she sets out for this government experiment in the wilderness with many other brides, building a life and friendships that she never imagined.  But life as an Indian in 1875 is not easy and she also encounters challenges that test her loyalties - her new Indian family or the political white civilization that she has always known.

This story is entertaining, easy to read, and definitely gets your brain thinking.  But the story is not amazing or life-changing.  A good read that would make an interesting movie.

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Your Questions: How to Roast a Chicken

We tend to roast a lot of chicken around here.  Because roasting a chicken is so simple, relatively inexpensive, delicious, and feeds us for quite a few meals, it ends up on the menu quite a bit. 

And each time, I list it on my "Meal Planning Monday" posts, I get questions from yall about how I do it.  And while I am definitely not the next Martha Stewart, I am more than happy to share what works for me and my family.

So here goes... how to roast a chicken.

• Defrost the chicken (this can take a while - sometimes days).
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
• Take out the "guts" that are on the inside and throw away.  Very gross, but you get over it.
• Rinse the chicken and pat it dry.
• Place the chicken breast-side up on a roasting pan or rimmed baking sheet.
• Rub the skin with olive oil.  I never measure, but I know that I use a lot.  Make sure you get the bottom of the chicken, too.
• Then rub the skin with salt and pepper - really get it in.  You show that chicken who's boss!
• I usually stuff the inside of my chicken with whatever is laying around - a lemon, some rosemary sprigs, garlic cloves, half an onion.  So check your fridge and see what you can use up.  
• Once everything is stuffed on the inside, I tie the legs of the bird together with kitchen twine.

• Then I put the chicken in the oven with legs on the bird facing out.  This is because the breast meat takes longer to cook - so I want it in the hottest part of the oven, the back.
• I usually roast my chicken for about an hour, but of course, it depends on the size of your chicken.  The best thing to do is to use a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh.  When it reads 165 degrees, it is time to take the bird out.
• Let the chicken rest for at least 10 minutes, then carve it up.

We usually eat roast chicken for dinner one night and then use the leftovers to make sandwiches for lunch and chicken enchiladas or tortilla soup the next night.

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Push It

Little B has created a new game that is all the rage in our house. It is called "Push It".  The rules to the game are as follows...

#1 - Find object to push

#2 - Go to the start line and get into the proper racing stance

#3 - After counting to 3, run as fast as you can while pushing your object.  Giggling is highly encouraged during this portion of the game.

#4 - Once you win, take a celebratory lap to smile and wave to the audience

And then of course, #5 - repeat as many times as possible before bed time.

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My girl

Sometimes I am just amazed by her.

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Question of the Day

I have hit a funk when it comes to this whole post-pregnancy body thing that is going on.  Yes, I am back to my pre-pregnancy weight, but the weight seems to have put itself in all the wrong places.  I used to pride myself on my flat belly.  And while I know that my bikini wearing days may be done, I can not bring myself to accept the muffin-top that shows up when I wear my jeans.  Damn Heidi Klum - she makes it look too easy!

My workout routine is okay, but not great.  I don't have a gym membership.  Instead, I usually walk (pushing a heavy stroller) every weekday morning around the neighborhood for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. I chase around a toddler a lot.  I work in a few sets of squats and lunges in here and there. And maybe once a week I do a workout video though my Netflix Instant queue.  So not bad, but not great.

We eat relatively healthy.  Limited processed food, no soft drinks, limited cheese/dairy.  We eat at home for most of our meals.  And I focus a lot of my energies in preparing and eating fresh, colorful produce.

So here is my question(s) of the day to all the mamas out there - How have you gotten back into shape after having your little one?  What thing did you do that you feel made the biggest difference?

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The next adventure

As I mentioned before, there are some exciting things in the works for me and my family.... And no, I am not pregnant. 

In the past few months, I always said that I was not looking for a "real" job (aka non-freelance) unless the perfect job fell in my lap.  Well, apparently you make a comment like that and the universe listens.

Just before Christmas, I got an email from an old work colleague wanting to meet up for coffee.  So we did just that and he started telling me all about this great company he works for and that they would love to have me come work for them.  After many more conversations and introductions to other team members, I am taking him up on his offer.

The company and the job are really perfect.  I am back in software, working with really amazing people that I would want to hang out with outside of work, and get to have a strong voice in how the company grows.  Plus, to start out I am only working 20 hours a week with the option to work more if I would like to.  So my afternoons are free to hang out with my girl.

And then as the cherry on top, we just happened to be at the right place at the right time and found the most amazing woman to come to house to watch Little B.  Everything just kind of fell into place without too much effort at all.  Thank you universe!

So wish me luck - my first day is on Monday.

Images via Mary Ruffle

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I am loving...

A cookbook gift from my friend, Whit.  Does this girl get me or what?!

Hot chocolate with a splash (or two) of Disarrono

It has been chilly in Austin this past week.  And this "special" hot chocolate  is the perfect way to unwind after a busy day.

Off The Map

What can I say!  It speaks to the Peace Corp wanna-be inside of me.  Yes, it is cheesy, but who does not need a little cheese these days.

Homemade Hummus

 This stuff is so easy to make.  Throw canned beans, olive oil, salt, pepper, and a bit of lemon juice in the food processor and blend.  It is my quick go-to lunch/snack because we always have the ingredients on hand.  So good.

My book club chose this book to read this month.  I have to admit, I did not think I was going to like it.  But I am half way through and really enjoying it.  It is going to be a great discussion.

 This Mac app is changing my musical life.  I am a bit late to the game when it comes to enjoying Pandora and Pandora Jam just takes it to the next level.

Images via Amazon, Real Simple, ABC, Happy Tummy, Amazon, Pandora Jam

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From my bookshelf: Special Topics in Calamity Physics

Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

So when my book club picked this book to read, I was a little unsure based on the title and the cover. Yes, I judged the book by its cover.  I asked, "This is fiction, right?"  It sounded so academic and boring.  Boy was I wrong.  Special Topics in Calamity Physics was anything but that.

Blue Van Meer and her father move at least once a year, never staying in one place long enough to make friends.  Her father is a professor and she is a highly intelligent high school student with a dark sense of humor.  For her senior year, they move to a small town in North Carolina where Blue falls into favor with this interesting group of friends that is led by her charismatic teacher, Hannah.  And when a series of life-changing events occur, the book became really good.  I could not put it down.

The author, Marisha Pessl, knows how to build suspense, character development and good old-fashion storytelling.  I would definitely recommend this book to others.

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Happy Monday!

Make it a good one!

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Meal Planning Monday

In one week, things are going to get very busy over here.  David has some houses that he needs to finish up quickly and I have some big things kicking off (more on that later this week).  We won't have a  lot of time to be spent on cooking.  But don't let that fool you into thinking that we won't be eating well.  Heck no!  Instead, I just have to plan a bit more, keep things simple, and of course rely on my trusty side-kicks, the crockpot and the freezer.  So my plan this week is to make some delicious meals with plenty of leftovers that I can stock up the freezer with.  That way, future dinners will be as simple as pulling something out of the freezer.

• Monday: Bourbon pork with roasted acorn squash, sweet potatoes, and parsnips
• Tuesday: Roasted chicken with sauteed spinach
• Wednesday: Chicken enchiladas (using leftover chicken from the night before)
• Thursday: Tuscan white bean soup
• Friday: Grilled pizzas

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Rainy Weekend

It has been so dreary and cold here for about a week now and I am still liking it - this forced hibernation.  My time has been spent finishing up random projects around the house, making banana bread, sipping on blueberry tea, sitting on the floor playing with puzzles with Little B, and catching up on our Netflix queue.  It has been nice. 

But I can tell that pretty soon, cabin fever is going to hit us like a punch in the face.  One little native is getting especially restless.  She is aching to go play outside where she can marvel over an acorn or laugh at leaves.  Soon, soon.

For now, I am content to just snuggle up against her warm chubby body.

Image Unknown

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From my bookshelf: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is fantastic! It may be the best book that I have read in all of 2010. I read it cover to cover in one day and I can not stop thinking about it.

Set in the ruins of what used to be North America, there is a Capitol surrounded by 12 districts.  There used to be 13 districts, but one was completely wiped out after they staged an uprising against the Capitol.  Anyways, in order to keep the remaining districts in line, the Capitol requires every district to provide one girl and one boy to compete in the annual Hunger Games.  The Hunger Games is a quest for survival where contestants must fight each other to the death on live television.

Katnis, a 16-year old girl, becomes a contender when she volunteers to take her 12-year old sister's place.  A survivor already, she must come to terms with how she will play the game, weighing her fight for her own life against morality, love, and the human spirit.

The minute I finished this book, I set out to go get the two other books in the series - Catching FireMockingjay and .  I think this book is amazing.  If you have also read it, leave me a comment and tell me what you though about it.  If you have not read, go get it now!

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Southern Charm

I consider myself a Southern Girl.  While I have traveled a lot, experiencing other cultures, food, and languages, there really is no place like home.  I have lived in Texas my whole life.  And even if life's adventures take me out of Texas for a period of time, I know this is where I will end up.

I think part of my love of here is due to Southern charm, especially when it comes to Southern guys.  There is this unwritten code that many Southern guys abide by.  I love it. If the code were written, I think it would go something like this.

•  Hold doors open for all ladies - young, old, short, tall, beautiful, really great personalities (aka not so beautiful)
• Be willing to come to a woman's aid in her time of need - kill bugs, change her tire, investigate the funny noise coming from the attic
• Know how to grill stuff
• Open her car door
• When you shake someone's hand, smile and look them in the eye
• Appreciate a good, home cooked meal
• Know how to build stuff
• Own at least one pair of boots
• When walking with a woman, a guy should walk on the side closest to the street

Image via Hollywood Outbreak

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Our weekend

This past weekend we stayed close to home.  Not too much planned.  A lot of laying on the couch watching football.  A bit of homemade cooking in the kitchen.  A little reading, here and there.  And I gotta tell you, it was exactly what I needed.

I think this may have been the first weekend with no plans since before Thanksgiving.  So it was really nice just sit around and spend time as a family.  Plus,  Little B has a molar coming in.  It actually looks pretty painful.  Her gums are all swollen and she is running a small fever.  I feel bad for our sweet girl.  So she did a lot of this....

Sleeping in mom and dad's bed - a very rare treat

Playing ball outside

She takes her ball playing very seriously.  Do not try to take it from her.  You will get "the look".

A few melt-downs followed up by lots of hugs

 

 

A whole bunch of flirting with the camera.

All in all, our weekend was great.  I hope you had a good one too!

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Meal Planning Monday

This week is going to be COLD.  Highs in the 30s.  It is snowing in Dallas.  Here is to hoping that some of it comes down to Austin.  Anyways, we need some good, hearty food to warm our bones this week, especially poor David who will be  out on job site battling the elements.

• Monday: Spicy sausage and shrimp jambalaya
• Tuesday: Ham, potato & cheese casserole - so bad for you, but so good!
• Wednesday: Chicken tikka masala with red peppers and rice
• Thursday: Meatloaf and roasted vegetables
• Friday: Pasta with artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, and capers

Photo via Louanne's Kitchen

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Big possibilities

Today's post will be short and sweet.  A quick note to say "Heeeeyyyyy".  There are big possibilities brewing for me and my family.  Can't share any details yet.  But keep your fingers crossed!

Image via Unknown

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Fabulous windows

Aren't these windows fabulous!  I would love to curl up on one of those ledges with a cup of coffee and a good book.

Image via ligia casanova

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From my bookshelf: From Dead to Worse

From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The plot lines in this book are pretty scattered, but still enjoyable none the less. You must read the previous books for this one to make any sense.  I like how it is a bit more focused on Sookie than some of the previous books. But you can tell that the author is laying down the groundwork for future books.

It is crazy how addictive this series is.  The writing is just okay.  The characters are superficial.  But for some reason, it just works.  Once I get started with one of these books, they are so hard to put down.

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2011 Wish List

Yes, it is January 4th and I am just now reflecting on 2010 and planning for 2011.  A little late, I guess.  But I am okay with that.

2010 was good with a healthy dose of challenging thrown in.  Not my best year for fun.  But a very good year for growing as a person.  And let's face it... growing as a person is not usually very fun while you are going through it.  But never-the-less, here I am, grateful for this adventure called "Life in 2010".

I am proud of what I accomplished in 2010.  Some big, some small. 

• Learned how to make brussel sprouts so that both my husband and I will actually eat them willingly. 
• Tried life out as a stay-at-home mom.  Tried life out as a full-time working mom.  Tried life out as a part-time working mom.  I feel a little like Goldilocks, but the moral of the story is that I kept searching to find a life that works with me and my family, as we are now.
• Read a lot of books, just for fun.
• Learned how to make food full of vegetables and nutrition that my little girl will gobble up and ask for more.
• Was initiated into my first full-year of being a no-nonsense, multi-tasking, card-carrying mom.  It took a while to identify myself as being a mom.  It is not like you pop out a baby and boom, your brain is automatically programmed to know and do all the stuff that comes with motherhood.
• Said goodbye to an old friend.
• Took chances outside of my comfort zone - food, money, a job, friends, etc.
• Created this amazing community of mamas in my neighborhood.  We share baby carriers, babysitting time, long walks, bottles of wine and many laughs.  And we have each leaned on each other so much in this past year.  It is crazy that not too long ago, we did not know each other at all.
• Made a whole roasted chicken for first time, and many, many times since then.
• Found my true blogging voice.

So now that 2010 is done, I must admit, I am really hoping that 2011 has a good bit of fun just waiting to jump out and surprise me.  We are due for some fun, for the sake of just having fun.  The last 2 years have been wonderful, but intense.  I am ready for a bit of mischief, laughing, and laid-back enjoyment of life.

So with that said, here are some of things on my 2011 wish list.

• Simplify - get rid of unnecessary/unhealthy clutter, consumerism, and relationships so that I can focus on the stuff/people/moments that really matter
• Increase my repertoire of healthy slow cooker meals
• The Literary Goddess Challenge
• Revive the annual Girls' Camping Trip
• Have friends over more often for fun, laid-back dinners where the kids run wild while the adults drink wine, eat too much, and laugh like we are still in our 20s.
• Watch Little B grow into a beautiful little girl.  I want to nourish her sense of adventure, her love of animals, and her funny sense of humor.
• Grow a garden that I am proud of and can feed my family.  This is the year that I will win the battle against garden pests!
• Be a better friend.  I think I am an okay friend.  I care.  I show up.  But I think I can be better.  
• Can whole fruits and applesauce for the first time
• Increase the conversation of my blog.  Based on the analytics, I have a decent amount of readership, but I still feel that this blog is a bit one-sided with my voice only.  I hope that 2011 inspires some of my readers to leave me a comment every now and then and let me know what is on their minds.  Comments make my day.
• Find the perfect recipe for homemade baked bread.
• Plan a trip that is not tied to any family function.  
• More date nights with my husband.

Okay, I laid out my wishes for 2010.  Now it is your turn.  What do hope 2011 will bring to you?  Leave me a comment and let me know.


Image via Mary Ruffle

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From my bookshelf: A Great and Terrible Beauty

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Set in the late 1800s, Gemma Doyle is sent to an English boarding school after the suicide of her mother. She starts having visions and soon discovers her mother's connection to both her school and the supernatural.

There is a lot of hype over this book and I am not sure it is well-deserved.  Don't get me wrong, overall this book was entertaining and was a quick, light read. Teenage angst at its best. It will definitely be interesting to see how the movie-version turns out.  But this book did not change my life.  And I did not find myself thinking about it after I finished the last page.

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