New Xmas Wreath

I made these last year for my mom and sister but I wanted one too so here we go.

Antique Store Finds

I'm pretty sure these don't qualify as "antiques" but I bought them anyway just because I liked them.

My Weekend With Me

Every year, or almost every year, my family leaves for the weekend to go hunting.  I get hounded by my husband to go along to visit family because he loves all of us being together but I selfishly decline.  I LOVE a weekend alone with myself.  Don't get me wrong.  Love my husband.  Loves my kids.  But I love myself too and sometimes I need to nurture my soul.  A big bed to myself.  No supper time rush after work.  I can listen to my music and watch my shows on TV.  I can visit with my friends or check in on my grandparents.  The point is, I can do whatever I want to do minus a need-to list shuffled in the mix.

So during my marvelous weekend I:

Friday
* Left work early cuz my boss said I could (bonus!)

* Spontaneously met my dear friend for a few beers and great conversation

* Slept in the middle of my bed with no fan on (hubby always has to have it on) and the window wide open

Saturday
* Sat on the beach and watched the sunrise with my dog

* Raked some leaves

* Changed the air filter and the brake light on my car

* Went shopping and FINALLY bought myself a pair of tall black boots and a pair of running shoes

* Visited my grampa, aunt, and cousin.  Stayed for supper.

* Listened to some music and sang loud with the windows open

* Made popcorn and watched a movie on Netflix

Sunday
* Made cinnamon rolls

* Took a walk with my dog in the woods

* Drank a glass of wine and watched an episode of Revenge

* Went for a long bike ride

* Drank another glass of glass of wine and watched more Revenge

* Sent an email to my supervisor and told her I would be late to work in the morning (she knew this might happen; it's not from the wine!)

I am refreshed and recharged.  Life.  Is.  Good.

Cooking Marathon

So I got it in my head that since the weather was not so great I would cook all day.  Maybe because I had just watched an episode of Rachael Ray's Week in One Day.  Surprisingly, I don't feel that wiped out.  Even better, I don't have to cook for the next few days.

Double batch  of banana bread

Macaroni and cheese

Mini  turkey meatloaves

Pasty pie

I have cooked, cleaned dishes, and blogged.  Now I can rest.  Hopefully there's a good movie on tonight!

Enjoy the Seasons

I really enjoyed one of Nienie's recent posts on enjoying the seasons.  Check it out.

http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/2013/09/my-season.html

I have to remember this in my life when things get hectic.

Changing Jobs

I have been working in the same office for eight years.  Let's see...where was I in my life eight years ago?  My daughter was seven years old and in the second grade.  My son was two years old and in diapers or pull-ups.  We were living in a cramped 2-bedroom apartment and this job couldn't have happened at a better time for my family.  We were on food stamps and three denied mortgage applications away from finally owning our own home.  I had tried for four years to get a job at this place and it had finally happened.  Shortly after, my husband got hired here there as well.

I loved my job.  It was the first time I woke up for work and actually looked forward to going.  Always something different to do, great supervisors and, most of all, great office gals.  They quickly became friends and not just co-workers.  We laughed and cried together.  We made fun of each other.  We hung out together.  I could have easily made that my forever office.

But a little over a year ago, I started feeling restless.  Suddenly I wasn't as enthusiastic to go to work in the morning.  The people hadn't changed nor had my responsibilities really.  I just had this gnawing feeling that I needed a breath of fresh air.  But change is scary, Kristi!  You want to start all over someplace else?!  You are out your mind, girl.  Yes, self, I was terrified.  I knew damn well it would not be the same in any other office and there was a big chance that I would work for some total block heads.  Was I too far gone and far too comfortable to take the chance?

I posted for two jobs without success.  The third interest came along and at the last minute I decided to throw my name in the hat.  Long story short, the interview was super.  Fairly new department head, brand new supervisor.  I wasn't nervous at all during the interview and felt very comfortable.  I couldn't deny the positivity floating through the air.  I went home that night very excited but then I called a friend crying with fear.  The fear!  The fucking fear!  It kept creeping up on me.  When the sun came up the next day, though, I managed to find my girl balls again and accepted the job.  I did it because in the end, fear was the only reason I would have turned down the job.

I will always love my old department.  I have loved that place since I was a student worker.  I didn't leave because I hated it.  The need for change and the need to fight my fear drove my choice.  I'll miss the people terribly.  I can't even look at that building yet but I know that will change.  I know the friendships I made will last.  I know my new job will provide me more money, more opportunity to take time off in the summer, and will provide a little less stressful environment for me.  I feel good knowing that I did everything I could have in my old job.  I made an impact and it made an impact on me.

So onward and forward I go.  To the next chapter.  You may not know, but my 40th year is approaching fast.  Perhaps this is the first of many changes to come.  I hope so.  I need to find myself.  I need to find more happiness.  I need more open doors of opportunity and I know I won't have a chance in hell if I let fear win.

Holy cow! Where Have I Been?!

For the whole one, maybe two, followers I have bet you're wondering where the hell I've been and whether or not I would blog anymore.  The answer is I've been around and I plan to blog some more.  Stay tuned...

Barf On Social Media

You know what sucks about social media?  Watching your father's second wife's birthday unfold on it. All the perfect birthday wishes from her kids.  The picture of the flowers and cupcakes my dad sent to her at work.  The barf buffet of love-you's and look-at-us-we're-so-perfect statuses.  Barf.  Barf.  Barf.

I can see why the "first" family gets little to none.  Too busy making the second family appear so perfect.  

See how easy that is with the help of social media?  They use it to be pretty and I use it to bitch about the ugliness of it all.  Now, excuse me, I have some friends to block and/or de-friend.

TV Girl Woody

Rich from Hard Core Pawn...

                  ...It's the hair and he's in a band.  I can't help myself!

Aiden from Revenge...

...It's the accent and the sexy stare.

Jambalaya

I have had this recipe in my collection a long time but was a little intimidated by it.  Lots of ingredients and steps.  I saw it on Paula Dean a few years back.  It is a family recipe of a friend of her's who was born and raised in Louisiana.  I decided it was time to stop being a cooking wimp and tackle it already.  I'm glad I did!  It was one of the best food-gasms I've had.


JAMBALAYA - Amelia Durand

1 tbsp. olive oil
1 lb. sausage (kielbasa), sliced
1 lb. smoked ham, cubed
1 tbsp. butter
1 medium onion, diced
1 cup celery, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1 cup tomato, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 jalapeno, minced
2 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. thyme
2 tbsp. tomato paste
6 cups chicken stock
3 cups rice
3 bay leaves
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. pepper
6-8 dashes hot sauce
1/2 cup green onion, chopped
3/4 cup parsley, chopped
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 lb. medium shrimp (20-24 count)

Heat oil in large pot or dutch oven.  Add sausage, brown, then remove.  Add ham, brown, then remove.  In same pot, add butter, onion, celery, and peppers.  Saute.  Add tomato, garlic, jalapeno, oregano, thyme, and tomato paste.   Cook a couple of minutes.  Add stock and bring to boil.  Reduce heat, cover, and cook for 20 minutes.  Add green onion, parsley, lemon juice, and shrimp.  Stir and make sure shrimp are good and covered in mix.  Cover again, remove from heat, and allow to steam for 15 minutes.

A side note:  I forgot to buy tomato paste and it still turned out great.  If you're not a fan of shrimp, leave them out.  I'm sure it will still be orgasmic!

Michigan Tech Winter Carnival

Last weekend we ventured further up north to Houghton for winter carnival.  I used to live up there and remember going to see the ice sculptures as a kid.  My kids weren't as enthused as I was to be there but it was a rare occasion that all four of us spent the day together.  My son did like the theme (super heroes) and took more pictures than me.  We had a good time.

Eben Ice Caves

I can check a little something off my bucket list; visiting the Eben Ice Caves.  It was perfect weather for winter hiking on Saturday and the family was bored so I suggested going there.  It was a fairly easy but long hike in.  Seeing the ice was worth the journey though.  Pretty cool.

Stormy Kromer Flowers and Frozen Pipes

Stormy Kromer started making their hats with flowers long after I got mine.  So after checking them out, I figured I could make my own.  Thanks to a friend, I got my hands on some felt.

So after I attempted to thaw out the kitchen sink pipe (no work today due to temps near -30 with the wind chill) I took a break to work on my flowers.  Sorry, pictures are kind of dark.

Salt-n-Peppa

I couldn't pass this by over the weekend.  Nesting doll salt and pepper shakers on clearance.