Daily Challenge Update

 It's been awhile since I discussed my daily challenges.  Like most things in life, there are good days with them and bad days with them.  I have realized, though, that just because I label it a daily challenge that does not mean that everything has to be done every day.  I would like it to happen that way, but it is not just realistic.  Any of my posts about time management will help you to understand that!

I have been drinking more water, that's for sure.  I carry a 32 oz water bottle with me every day to work.  My goal is to drink at least 3 of those every day.  Sometimes it works, sometimes not.  I do, however, make it a rule that I need to drink at least 2 of those bottles before I treat myself to something else like iced tea or a soda.  I'm not including coffee in that list because I need that first thing in the morning LOL

Exercise and walking has been hit and miss.  For awhile, I was getting up every day and walking some.  I did feel better but after vacation, that just kind of died down.  Sometimes I will go walking after work with Michael and our friend Chris, but often I'm spending my time doing homework, so I need to make some time, even if it's just 15 minutes a day, to do something physical. I just need to tell myself that walking the halls at work does not count LOL

I only write about one letter a week.  I wish I did more, but alas, not so much.  I do keep my appearance neat and clean each day, so that's been one that has worked out well.  Basically, there are lots of things I am continuing to work on.  Putting some priority on those in order to balance my life will be beneficial.  It will happen.  I just takes time...and we all know how good I am with that!

That is all

Recipe of the Week - White Bean Dip

 I do enjoy a good dip recipe.  I found this one in an issue of "Our State" magazine and wanted to give it a try.  As a fan of white beans, this seemed like it would be something I would enjoy and I was right.  I have made it several times and Michael and I both like it.  It has a very hummus like feel to it.  Enjoy!

White Bean Dip

2 14.5oz cans of navy or cannellini beans

2 cloves of garlic, minced

juice from 1 lemon

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped or 1 tsp dried

1/4 cup olive oil

Mix all ingredients in a bowl.  Mash beans with fork, leaving a few whole.  Chill before serving.  Yields 2 cups approximately.  Goes great with Triscuits! 

I've made this both navy and cannellini beans and both work well.  If you want more whole beans in the dip, go with the cannellinis.  

Thought for the day - balance

 Now that I am back in school and also working full time, I really need to focus on the balance of home, life, school and work.  I don't want to focus too much on one thing and neglect the others.  And, admittedly, I have done that.  There are things I haven't paid as much attention to as I need to and it's time for work on that.  Overall, my life is very rich and fulfilling.  Yes, there will be more opportunities out there.  Yes, new people will come into my life.  But I am very thankful for what I have now and I need to show it more.

I already know that if I keep up with things, I feel better.  I just don't always make the time for them that I should.  And the problem truly stems from being able to blame something else. No, I didn't finish laundry because I was doing homework.  No, I didn't work on that project because I was cleaning the bathroom.  Etc, etc, etc.  Now, I'm not saying homework and cleaning the bathroom are not valid things to do, I just make too many excuses.  I think if I can really start to balance things, the excuses may still occur but might have some more validity to them.  It's hard to put into words, but it definitely makes sense in my head LOL

I need to take time to make time.  Life is too short not to soak up everything it has to offer.  But if I'm driving myself nuts and putting so much pressure on myself, I'll wake up one day and too many things will have passed by.  This is one of those moments when I know that time management is my friend.  Is there a course I can take on that?  I should look into it haha!  And I'm not saying that I will be able to get everything done.  That's not going to happen and that's ok.  I just need to spread my energy and enthusiasm to more than one thing.

I know that it is not fair to myself to compare myself to others, but I am always amazed at the example set by my parents.  They managed to work, have a home life and a social life and seemed to get it all done in due time.  And there were sacrifices made and they prioritized things, so that's what I'm really hoping to do more of to get this sense of balance that I long for.

Balance is not easy.  And whoever says it is...well, they're several steps ahead of me LOL  

Recipe of the Week - Honey Mustard Glazed Chicken

 I cook a lot of chicken, particularly chicken thighs, and am always looking for new ways to fix them.  I was looking online for a new sauce to make for cooking chicken and found this one and thought I would give it a try.  We liked it and I have done it several times already.  

I had never made my own honey mustard anything before. I do like it as a dip but am not a fan of it on a salad, but that's just me.  The sauce ended up being pretty easy to make and I had almost everything on hand to do it.  Actually, someone at work gave me a container of honey and I needed to do something with it which is one of the reasons I looked up honey mustard in the first place.  You can use this one any pieces of chicken and it will be great.  It would also be good to put the chicken on the grill after marinating it.  Enjoy!

Honey Mustard Glazed Chicken

3 Tbsp honey

3 Tbsp Dijon mustard*

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 tsp apple cider vinegar

1 clove of garlic, minced

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

6 boneless skinless chicken thighs

Combine all ingredients except for the chicken.  Whisk them together until they are well combined.  Coat the chicken with the sauce and let marinate for at least one hour.  Preheat oven to 350.  Place the chicken in a baking dish and cover.  Bake at 45 minutes or until the chicken reaches 165 degrees.  Enjoy!

For this last time I made this, I had 12 chicken thighs so I doubled the sauce recipe.

* I have made this with Dijon, whole grain mustard and spicy brown mustard and they're all great.

Jeremiah 29:11

 In seeking to balance my life with work, school and home, I am also seeking peace both within me and around me.  This verse gives me that.  And it gives me hope, which is always welcomed in my heart.

My Cabbage Patch Kid

 One of the wonderful things about being an adult is being able to buy toys for myself.  And, yes, I do that!  I look back at all of the toys I didn't have as a child and make a list of the things that I want.  I didn't have much shame as a child as to what kinds of toys I wanted but that's fodder for another blog one day.  Still, I don't have much shame today either about the toys I seek out.  Thank goodness for Ebay.  In the age of technology, I can usually find exactly what I am looking for.  I don't always win the auction, but it's always fun to try!

One of the things I always wanted was a Cabbage Patch Kid.  I, like most of America at the time, was obsessed with them.  We all wanted one.  Alissa was the first in our neighborhood to get one.  She got it for Easter.  Then, other kids got them.  I never did.  At the time, of course, I was crushed but in hindsight, it was ok.  I would always find them in the toy stores and spend lots of time looking them over....much to the stares of other people but oh well.  

I did get lots of CPK stickers and even got a CPK calendar one year for Christmas.  I played by myself a lot and when you have to rely on your imagination, you come up with all sorts of things.  I ran my own cabbage patch orphanage, with full descriptions of the kids names, eye color, hair color, etc.  I spent many hours playing that.  I enjoyed it.  Still, the elusive CPK of my very own never came to fruition.  Until this year.

This is Tara April. 

Born November 1st.  She has red hair and green eyes.  Her clothes are well worn but still in decent shape.  Her tongue sticks out.  But she's mine.  It's what I wanted.  Thanks to Ebay, I could get the exact hair and eye color I wanted.  And I did.  And I love the fact that she's not brand new.  One of the things I enjoy most about collecting toys is that I want them to be in good shaped but I want them to have been played with and loved by a child.  She has been and will continue to be.  Now, onto my toy buying adventure!  Can't wait to see what I find out there!

Thus ends today's episode of Around the House.

That is all.

My Funny Valentine - Linda Ronstadt

 The other day I was listening to Linda Ronstadt and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra perform songs from The American Songbook.  She did several of these records and they, like most of her records, are amazing.  She is such a versatile singer.  This one and "What'll I Do?" are two of my favorites from this period of her recordings.  Enjoy!