Day 2 (and a little pep talk too!)

Today was day 2 od the insanity challenge. I hadn't done particular workout yet, but Bryan had. He told me it was scarily hard. I didn't believe him. The trainer on this DVD series tried to kill me today. He should be arrested for attempted murder. I sound like a giant baby, and I'm perfectly aware of that, thank you. I know that it's going to take a lot of work for me to get into the kind of shape that I want to be in, but I have mentioned the lazy, yes? But I'm going to put the lazy aside. I don't want jiggly bits anymore.

So that's what's going on today. However, for your reading pleasure, I'm going to add a post that I wrote a couple years ago. Enjoy!

The Tao of Kristen

Current mood:blessed

I pushed snooze one too many times. It was freezing outside. I had to scrape my windows (and of course I scraped Bryan’s too because he wasn’t up yet and I love him). I had to be at work an hour earlier than usual. Of course I was late. Spilled coffee all down my pants on the way into my office. When I got here, my computer monitor was dead. I didn’t get enough sleep last night. I didn’t get my homework done. It’s so quiet in my office that it sounds as though the clock is yelling the "tick tocks" at me. Caffeine is not helping.
This is my day so far. I sure hope it gets better.
But who has the most positive attitude in the world?? ME! :) Yesterday (Easter) was great...exhausting, but great. People love me. I’m not being egotistical, just making an observation. I think that’s how I keep myself so positive. I got about a million hugs yesterday. Sometimes I don’t realize how many people care...I am extremely blessed to have these people in my life. No matter what decisions I’ve made, no matter what path I’ve taken, they are always there.
So, no matter how many days like this I have...No matter how much coffee gets spilled on my pants, they can be washed (I JUST WASHED THEM YESTERDAY!!!). Life is full of snags...Full of bad hair days, or just bad days in general. That’s LIFE. The trick is to look past the little things. Look past the people who annoy you. Look past coffee spills and bad drivers. Look to what really matters: good health, a beautiful day, your family (yes, even their faults), your friends, the kindness of strangers. Life is what you make it. If you focus on the negative, that’s how everything will look. That’s how everything will be. I mean, let’s face it...there’s a lot of negative out there to focus on. But focus on the positive, however little you can find. Love and be kind, even though you don’t want to. It pays off...And that’s not just the Xanax talking!!
I know I sound like a dirty hippie, but I’m not, I swear!  :)

It's not called 'Insanity' for poos and giggles...

OK, so I stated in a previous blog that I was going to share my journey to a healthier and more fit body with you guys...so...Here we go.

Last Tuesday we started the Insanity workout. And guess what? It's INSANE. The first workout is a Fit Test. I actually think that it's just a chance for you to see how sadly out of shape you actually are. I could barely stand up after, and by the next morning, I was trying to figure out how to get to work without walking down the stairs. I couldn't work out Wednesday (mercilessly) because I was making dinner for some of my family. Thursday, I did the next workout, but something was different. I already felt better. My legs were really sore, but it felt great. For any of you who have known me for any length of time at all, you know that my enjoying a workout is harder to believe that an episode of The Twilight Zone.

Because of the craziness of last week, those were the only workouts I could fit in. So I vowed to do better this week. I started over. I wanted to start from the beginning and do it right. So I started the first workout again. Guess what? Totally not as hard as it was last week. It wasn't easy...but I wasn't wanting to be put out of my misery at the end.I'm actually looking forwardto tomorrow's workout. WHAT?!?! I know...So not me! I can't wait to feel my strongs comin on. And Im super psyched that I've got you guys to whine to.

Kennedy's Valentine

Our 8-year-old Kennedy is VERY shy. Like, so shy that once when I was dancing in the living room (it was just the 2 of us) she bit me. I asked her why she did that and she said, "You were embarassing me and I wanted you to stop!" So, pretty shy. Well, this super shy little girl decided a few weeks ago that she wanted to give a very special Valentine's gift to a very special boy. She has always had boys that are her friends, but there is one boy that she's been friends with for a couple years now that has caught her eye. (His name is Bryce and he is ADOREABLE.)
Anyway, I picked Kennedy up from my mom's and we were on our way to Bryce's house to give him his present and his Valentine's card, and Kennedy said, "Oh no!! Don't be mad at me..." This statement usually makes me twitch a little. I get a little facial tic. "I left his Valentine at school!" By now it was already 5:45 and I KNEW there would be no one in the front office. But we drove around back to where they have after school care and my good friend that works there let us in. Whoo!! Crisis averted!
We get to Bryce's house and Kennedy walks to the door...with me behind her because she was too shy to go alone. When Bryce opens the door, she practically throws the card and present at him and then scurries around behind me to hide. This is so unbecoming of a young lady. So I push her out in front of me and she reaches out to receive her card from him (which he was holding out quite shyly as well), says "Happy Valentine's Day!" then runs to the car. Bryce's mom and I just smiled at each other and shook our heads.
Kennedy was on such an adrenaline high after that. She was a ball of nerves before we got to Bryce's, and relieved and excited when we left. Then Amber (Bryce's mom) texted me and told me that she told Bryce, "Buddy, you're really lucky to have such a pretty girl that likes you!" And to that, he smiled really big. Too cute!

Fast forward to later that evening...I realize that I just facilitated the beginning of Kennedy's "boys no longer have cooties" stage. Oh no. I'm definately not ready for that!!! :(

DISLIKE!!

Some More Recipes!

I love my mom. That being said, she didn't teach me how to cook. She doesn't like to cook. Never has. I, on the other hand LOVE to cook. I remember sitting in my bedroom when I was a little kid, maybe 6 or 7-years-old, watching infomercials about food or cooking shows. I was fascinated by it. So when I met Bryan, I decided that if I was going to learn, I'd have to figure it out myself. Well, by myself with the help Food Network, anyway. Once I had Food Network, I was inspired. The first time I made dinner for Bryan, I was hooked. I get a lot of my recipes from other people, the internet, or cookbooks, but I always tweak them to make them exactly what I want. I always feel like there's something that I can do to make it a better recipe. Every now and then, I come across a recipe that I don't have to do anything to. Oh, and everything that I make is easy. Remember that whole 'lazy' thing I have going on? Recipes that people ask me for the most are fish recipes. I didn't know that fish was so hard to make?? I make it all the time...Here are a few of my favorites.


Chili-Rubbed Tilapia Sandwiches
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Serves 4

1/4 cup sweet paprika

2 tablespoons ground thyme

2 teaspoons onion powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

4 (10-ounce) tilapia fillets

4 Kaiser buns, split, buttered and toasted

Store bought mango salsa (optional)

Cilantro Lime Mayonnaise, recipe follows

In a shallow dish, combine first 6 ingredients.

Pour melted butter into another shallow dish. Dip fish fillets in melted butter and coat with seasoning mixture.

Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Cook prepared fish, in batches if necessary, 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Spread Cilantro Lime Mayonnaise evenly over toasted buns. Place blackened fish on bottom half of bun, top with mango salsa, and cover with top half of bun.

Cilantro-lime mayo:

1 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup freshly chopped cilantro leaves

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Cover and chill.

This dish is SO good! It's a little smoky, light, and the mayo and mango salsa is cool and refreshing. It's perfect with fries or a salad in the summertime. It is satisfying without leaving you feeling too full.

Grouper Fromage ('Fromage' is French for 'cheese')

Cook time: 30 minutes

Serves 4

1 tablespoon butter or olive oil

3/4 cup chopped onion

2 cups shredded Monterey Jack

1 cup mayonnaise

1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (recommended: Texas Pete)

1 teaspoon House Seasoning, recipe follows

4 grouper fillets, about 8 ounces each

1 lemon, halved

Crushed red pepper flakes, to taste

1 stick cold butter, cut into 8 slices

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.


In a small skillet, add 1 tablespoon butter or oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and cool slightly.

To the bowl, add the cheese, mayonnaise, hot pepper sauce and 1/2 teaspoon House Seasoning. Mix well and set aside. Grease a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking dish. Sprinkle the fish with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon House Seasoning. Place the fish in the baking dish and squeeze the juice of the lemon over it and sprinkle with red pepper flakes. Top fish with slices of butter. Bake for about 10 to 15 minutes or until fish is almost done; the time will depend on the thickness of your fish. Remove the dish from the oven and cover each fillet with 1/2 cup of the cheese mixture. Return to the oven and bake until cheese melts, about 8 to 10 minutes.

House Seasoning:
1 cup salt
1/4 cup black pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder


Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.


For this recipe, I have to thank Paula Deen. I used to watch Paula so often that kennedy knew who she was, even at 2-years-old. The only thing that I would have to say about this recipe is that the sauce is pretty rich. Cutting back on the mayo a little helps with that. This pairs well with roasted asparagus (coat asparagus with a little olive oil, then salt and pepper and roast at 400 degrees for about 8 minutes) and maybe some form of rice or potatoes.


Mustard Roasted Fish
Cook time: 15 minutes
Serves 4

4 (8-ounce) fish fillets such as red snapper (you could also use tilapia or swai)

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

8 ounces creme fraiche (a good substitute for creme fraiche is sour cream with a little heavy cream mixed in)

3 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard

2 tablespoons minced shallots

2 teaspoons drained capers

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. (You can also use an ovenproof baking dish.) Place the fish fillets skin side down on the sheet pan. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
Combine the creme fraiche, 2 mustards, shallots, capers, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Spoon the sauce evenly over the fish fillets, making sure the fish is completely covered. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish, until it's barely done. (The fish will flake easily at the thickest part when it's done.) Be sure not to overcook it! Serve hot or at room temperature with the sauce from the pan spooned over the top.


Again, Food Network is awesome. I got this one from Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa). It just looked so easy. And it totally is! Again, pairs well with roasted asparagus and roasted red potatoes (with a little fresh dill....mmmmm). Really, is there anything that doesn't go with roasted asparagus? Not really...


These are just a few of the reasons that Bryan and I are a little more padded today than we were 6 1/2 years ago. My love of cooking is a 2 edged sword. Delicious food every night, trying new things...then we have to work harder to be healthy. The Grouper Fromage is the only dish thats really heavy, but if you go easy and don't have it too often, you should be fine.

This Is How I Know:

How does a person know that the companion that they have chosen to marry is the right one? This is one of the questions that a person asks herself (himself) before they get married. How do you know? What if this person ISN'T the one? I never really asked this question when Bryan asked me to marry him. I knew I wanted to marry him after our second date. I even called my friend's mom and told her that I had just been out with the man I was going to be with for the rest of my life. Last night, the unwavering faith that I am with my "one" was reaffirmed.
Last night I had a dream that Bryan left me for another woman. (OK, this isn't the point of reaffirmation, keep reading. I'm getting there.) I was so devastated. In my dream, I literally felt nauseous. I felt like I didn't want to live if I couldn't be with him. I know that I COULD live...exist...without him. But the quality of that life would be severely lacking. When I woke up, I made him promise that he would never leave me. Although I know that this is a hard promise to keep because things happen...unavoidable things...I know that he will keep it. Just like I will keep the same promise to him.
I know our marriage has it's faults. I know there are no perfect marriages. Each of us has certain flaws that that the other is annoyed with. But through all of our issues, we are always on each others' side. Always in each others' corner. Sometimes we aren't 100% super happy with each other, but we have never loved each other any less. It wasn't just the dream that made me feel this way. It was the resounding feeling that I had all day after I woke up. Without Bryan, I am only half of a person. He truly is my other half. As long as we have each other, we can get through anything. Anything.

So Not Me

I am a couch potato. Any of you who have known me for any length of time at all knows that I am not one to exercise much. Ok, at all. But for some reason, my husband has signed us up for a mini-marathon in May. I KNOW! So crazy. What was I thinking to let him do this? Now I'm obligated to make it 13.1 miles ON FOOT in under 4 hours. I have done a couple of 5ks, but that's only 3 miles. Not a big deal really. But it still took me about 38 minutes. So 13 miles will probably take me...almost 3 hours. Of running. Ew.
Anyway, I figured that this blog could serve the purpose of following my journey. Plus, I feel like it will help keep me accountable. We are doing the Insanity workout while it's so cold outside, but when the weather starts to warm up a little, I'm planning on walking/running every day. Who knows? Maybe after this I'll be really hot?? That would be cool. Plus, Bryan deserves a super hot wife. I've always wanted to wear shorts in the summer...
My plan is to eat healthier, exercise more and be an all-around better person. I need to be a better example for my kids, and I plan on watching my great-grandkids grow up. And the only way to do that is to take the best care of Bryan and I as I can. First, things first though...I have a bowl of cherry cordial ice cream topped with magic shell. What? I'm gonna start tomorrow!

Stupid Valentines Day

My husband is amazing. He is my best friend, a great dad, a faithful provider, a laundry doer AND folder AND putter-away, he is responsible, funny, and a great cuddler. But I have come to realize something: if I want a romantic Valentine's Day, I'm going to have to plan it myself. Men (most of them) either don't care for gooshy romance, or only do it for their girlfriend/wife's sake. I'm not a super girly girl, or really flowery or anything like that. But a girl likes a little romance every now and again. I asked Bryan if he had planned anything for Valentine's day so I could line up my mom to watch the kids. Valentine's day is on a Monday, so I figured we'd go out over the weekend. Here it is, Wednesday, and there are no plans. No reservations made.
I realize that I shouldn't be really upset. My husband is seriously amazing. I have nothing to really complain about. But I want him to surprise me. Plan a surprise for me. He's a horrible liar, so this is next to impossible even if he were to plan something. Valentine's Day makes me sentimental. What girl isn't like that? All I'm asking for is a reproduction of our first date, the first time we said "I love you" or the night that he proposed. Make dinner for me, light a fire in the fireplace and have a picnic in front of it. Send me on a scavenger hunt to find you waiting with flowers. I don't require anything super intricate or involved (although the scavenger hunt idea is kind of involved...). I just want to be surprised. I have given you children, I bring home (some of) the bacon, and I make dinner every night. Surprise me a couple times a year, that's all I'm asking.
I love Bryan. I couldn't have picked a better man for me even if I had designed one myself. He makes me feel loved and appreciated. And really, that is good enough for me. Better than enough, actually. But the commercialization of Valentine's day has me feeling that on this particular holiday, I need more. It's not Bryan's fault. I blame it all on Hallmark.

My Day Ended With Tomatillo Chicken

Despite having a very busy couple of days at work (ok, basically I've been busy since I started the job a couple of months ago), I've been in a really good mood. I've handled the stress and the constant interruptions with good humor and chocolate. I usually handle stress fairly well. Unless it (stress) happens ALL THE TIME. Like it does at work. Anyway, I've been in a really great mood. For no particular reason. This is a novelty. My good mood lasted until this afternoon. There was an altercation with a co-worker which I won't get into in this post, but I'm sure it will come up eventually because this altercation culminated with me walking out of the office in total flabbergasted frustration.

Like many people, I stress eat. I HATE this about myself. I'm getting a little better...I limited myself to 3 Hersheys kisses. But then I came home and ate almost an entire cheese ball with crackers. Before dinner. Do you know why people stress eat? Because food makes one feel comforted. I don't know why mashed potatoes, mac n cheese or yummy cheesy chicken spaghetti makes me feel comforted, but it does! So tonight I decided to make a slightly healthier version of comfort food. I could have made it healthier, but where's the comfort in that? Tonights menu: Tomatillo Chicken with Cilantro Lime Rice. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Tomatillo Chicken
Prep: 25 minutes
Grill: 10-15 minutes
Makes 4 servings

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (so 2 chicken breasts, butterflied)
4 slices of provalone cheese (or more because it's so yummy)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
6 tomatillos, husks removed, chopped
1/4 cup of lime juice (plus a little extra for the rice)
6 pickled jalapenos, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup minced, fresh cilantro (plus a little extra for the rice and garnish)
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
Hot cooked rice (with a bit of lime juice and cilantro mixed in)
Sour cream, optional

Grill the chicken (or broil, however you prefer it) until done. Top with cheese and cook another couple of minutes until cheese is melted.
in a large skillet, saute onion in the oil until tender. Add the tomatillos, lime juice, jalapenos and garlic; cook  3-5 minutes longer. Stir in the cilantro, cumin, salt and pepper. Serve tomatillo mixture and chicken with rice and a dollop of sour cream if desired.

This is SO easy to make and it tastes amazing. Am I full? Yes. Did I still want seconds? Yes. Am I comforted? Very. That is, until tomorrow. But tomorrow, I'll comfort myself with something new.

Favorite Books

I know that in previous posts I've talked about how much of a nerd I am about reading. It's totally true, by the way. It's no secret that I've always wanted to be a writer, and I know that people who love to write, also love to read. Plus, every author that I admire has a 'reading list' post on their blogs. I am pretty sure that I inherited my love of reading and writing from my dad. As far back as I can remember, my dad was happy as long as he had a good book.

Side note: My dad would write, produce and direct plays and dramas for our church every year for Christmas and Easter, and skits for our Halloween parties. The actors would perform for audiences that packed the church, and we would even have to put on multiple shows because so many people wanted to come, but there wasn't enough room. I know this is off subject a little, but I think its awesome. I really feel that my dad could have gone places with his talents. But I digress.

I like to read all genres of literature. I'll read anything from Harry Potter to Twilight to Huckleberry Finn (I own all of those, by the way). Memoirs? Yes please! Dramas? Sure! Chick lit? Oh yeah! Murder mysteries? Ok! (I think you get the idea...) Here are some of my long time favorites that I just keep going back to time and time again. They are perfect for curling up by a fire or stretching out on a beach towel.

Julie by Catherine Marshall

Julie is one of the few books that I have read more than once (well I guess all the books on the list are books that fit that category). It is based on the true story of the Johnstown flood of 1889 in Pennsylvania. However, in the book, the story takes place in the 1930s. It's about a teenage girl who's minister father has taken over a small newspaper in Pennsylvania. For people of my generation who didn't experience the Great Depression, this book is a great look into that time.  

Blackbird by Jennifer Lauck

This is a beautiful memoir about a girl who goes through way more than any child should. Jennifer wrote this memoir as though she were writing it while she was living it. It doesn't feel like a re-telling of a story. It feels like you are right there with her. Jennifer is blessed to be born to loving parents and live in a lovely neighborhood. But after she turns 5-years-old her mother becomes very ill. This is the beginning of a downward spiral in her young life. Blackbird is extremely inspirational in the fact that Jennifer is so resilient. The follow-up to Blackbird, Still Waters, follows Jennifer through adolescence and into adulthood. Still Waters is a great read as well, but Blackbird is the one that I have read over and over and over.....etc. While I'm on the subject of memoirs (and Jennifers)...

Bitter is the New Black by Jennifer Lancaster

If you haven't read Jen Lancaster, you are severely missing out. Not only did she appeal to me as an author because she is from the same general area of the country as me (Indiana), but because she's just so stinking funny. Bitter is Jen's break-out bestseller following her through her fall from a successful career in Chicago after 9/11 and her subsequential journey to becoming a writer (new career path), and she has followed up with several other equally-awesome memoirs. All of her books are so funny, that I'm no longer allowed to read them while I'm in bed because I keep waking Bryan up with all the laughing. Apparently he's not as amused by Jennifer's neighbor-spying and f-bombs as I am.

Sphinx by Robin Cook

I first read Sphinx when I was about 12 years old. Let me just say, I adore Robin Cook. I have read almost all of his novels. Most of them are medical mysteries, but he has a couple that are a little different. This is one of them . Sphinx follows Erica Baron, an Egyptologist, to Egypt (because that's where Egyptologists go) so she can fulfill her dream of seeing the ruins of ancient Egypt. Erica witnesses a murder and is plunged into the world of black market profiteering. At 12-years-old and 28-years-old, I couldn't put this book down. Interesting fact: This books original release date was the day after I was born, which was my original release date.

Acceptable Risk (also) by Robin Cook

Edward, a scientist, is dating Kim, a nurse, who is researching her family's history, which just so happens to date back to the Salem witch trials. While they are on Kim's family's land, they come across a mold spore growing in the basement of a cabin that Edward tries to develop as a drug. During clinical trials, however, odd things start happening and the drug turns out to do horribe things to the mind. The movie for the book kind of sucks, but don't let that deter you from reading the book!

PS....obviously I got the picture from Amazon....

The Circle Series by Ted Dekker

The first three books of this series are A. MA. ZING. (I have not read book # 4, Green, so I can't speak for that one.) They are of the sci-fi/fantasy genre which can either be really good (Twilight, holla) or really bad. My favorite is Black, but for some reason, anytime there is a sequal, I always prefer the maiden-voyage book. The book that gets you INTO the story to begin with. Anyway, the lead character, Thomas Hunter, is hit in the head by a bullet and he wakes up in an ulternate universe. One where giant bats are the enemy and they live in a creepy black forest. There's an awesome place called "the colored forest" whose inhabitants don't know anything but happiness and awesomeness. Every time Tom goes to sleep in one world, he wakes up in the other. One reviewer put it like this: two worlds, one hero to save them both. In the alternate universe, there is a battle between good and evil and it has some similarities to CS Lewis books where there is a Lion who is symbolic of God. The religious ties gave me goose bumps.

A Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins

A Walk Across America (or Walk, as I call it), is the true story of Peter Jenkins and his, wait for it, WALK ACROSS AMERICA in the 1970's. Peter had pretty much lost faith in America in the 70's and decided that he wanted to travel and meet as many people as he could to restore his faith in our nation. So Peter, along with his trusty Malamute Cooper, walked across this great country of ours, beginning in Connecticut and finishing the journey years later on the west coast, and met and lived with several different people and families along the way. At some point, National Geographic got wind of his journey and gave him a camera and asked him to document his adventures for the magazine. Which. Is. Awesome. Again, Peter has written several books since this one about his travels, but I keep coming back to Walk. You fall in love with Peter and his desire to uncover the true spirit of America's people. Also, Cooper is the cutest, most amazing dog to read about. He is a very important character in the story. This book is so amazing and so beautifully written, it will make you want to put on your Nikes and grab a big ol' pack and hike across the country. You may not actually DO it, but you will WANT to.

The Last Guardian by Shane Jenkins

Again, I got this picture from Amazon.

T.G. Shass comes across an artifact of otherworldly power, but he can't remember how he came to possess it. He is transported to an alternate reality that exists as though the Flood of the Bible had never happened. Once he finally makes it back to this reality, he discovers that his love, Jenni, has vanished. He becomes convinced that she has somehow been taken to the alternate reality and tries to return there. I can't say enough good things about this book! I couldn't put it down! I think I read it in something like 2 days.

Well, these are some of my favorites. I didn't want to review books like Twilight or The Da Vinci Code (both of which I adore) because everyone has either read them or has seen the movies. So please, try one of these books, if you haven't already. I know that you'll love them! Also, if anyone wants to borrow them, I own all of these. I was reading them so often that it got annoying to go to the library to get them. Ownership was the only way to go!!

Recipe of the day-ish

Ok, so here's my idea: Im going to post my favorite recipe/band/tv show/movie of the day. I might not actually get around to doing it EVERY day (I am a full-time parent, wife and employee after all), but I will do my best. Today, I bring you a recipe. We had this for dinner tonight and it was oh-so-yummy on a cold, frosty evening such as this.

Prep: About 10-15 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Makes approximately 6 servings. (Four if you eat like we do!)

Defrost Your Bones Pork Stew

Small amount of vegetable oil (about 1 1/2 tbs)
1 lb pork loin, cut into 1" chunks (I used chops, but you could certainly use chicken)
1 green bell pepper, medium diced
2 cloves garlic, diced
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed (you could also substitute potatoes. Red potatoes would be good because they aren't as starchy as russets.)
1 cup cole slaw mix with carrots (praise Jesus for the pre-packaged cole slaw!)
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning*
2 cans of chicken broth (I actually used a mix of chicken and vegetable broth)

(*If you can't find Cajun seasoning in the store: 1 tbs back pepper, 2 1/2 tbs salt, 1 tbs cayenne, 1 tbs paprika. 1 tbs dried oregano. It will make plenty of extra which you can save in an air tight container.)

Coat the pork in the Cajun seasoning and cook in the oil until browned.

Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce and simmer for 15 minutes or until sweet potatoes are tender.

That's all there is to it, kids! It's delicious, warm and just a little spicy (leave out the cayenne if you don't dig spicy). I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did! Bryan liked it too, but he can't taste anything because he's sick, so I dont know if that counts. I've got tons more to share, so stay tuned!

Blogs

I have decided something recently, and here it is: A person can be addicted to some really odd things. In my profile, I stated (quite proudly) that I am not a watcher of reality television. I'd rather have a STORY that is scripted on my tv. Which, ok, most reality television shows ARE scripted...I'm pretty sure after the first or second season of The Real World, there have been scripts, but I digress.
I am not addicted to smoking, drugs, drinking, exercise (ha!), or any of those things that people seem to glean to so easily. I prefer to lean more to things like chocolate, cheese, pasta...food in general. But I have a new found obsession: Blogs. Yes. That's right. I get to look into people's lives via my favorite medium. I love words. I like to be able to read about a person or a place and have a picture constructed in my mind. I guess I like to use my imagination. I like it when I read to Kennedy at night and she takes her eye mask off her face (yes, my 8-year-old diva wears an eye mask to bed) and says, "Mom! It's like there's a movie playing in my head! Cool!" The only way that blogs could be better is if they were in book form (umm...I guess that would be a memoir, huh?). I like the weight of the book in my hand, I like the smell of the bindings, I like to turn the pages. Once, when I was about 10, I went to Barnes & Noble with a wad of Christmas cash and blew it all on books. Glorious books! The cashier asked me if I was going to jail or something. I don't know why that's the first thing that came to his mind, but whatev. I had a stack of about 15 books, fresh, never opened, bindings that had never been bent, and it was all mine! Yeah. I'm a nerd. What of it?
I've been reading a lot of memoirs and autobiographies lately, and on the authors' web sites there are usually links to blogs that they write as well. So one day last week, I had decided to check some of them out. I couldn't imagine for the life of me a) a writer coming up with something to write about on a regular basis ASIDE from their books, and b) that there would be something interesting and worth my time to read. I figured it would be all about book signing dates and book tours, etc. Which, don't get me wrong, that's is interesting, but not as much fun as a story. But, oh my. The world of blogging has opened up a whole new can of obsession for me. This is my "Real Housewives of (insert city here)", my "Keeping Up with the Kardashians", my "American Idol". Yeah. I'm a nerd. And this, friends, is my nerdy version of reality television.

Snow storm

I have mentioned that I hate winter, yes? I hate getting out of a nice, warm, cozy bed and freezing my little piggies off when I walk downstairs to let Zona outside. Most people would just say, "Hey Kristen, just put on a sweatshirt and some slippers!", but to that I say, "I was built for warm weather." We are currently under a level 1 snow emergency, which means emergency vehicles are the only ones allowed on the roads. Last time we had an ice storm like this one, our town had no power for THREE WEEKS so after the first couple of nights, my family peaced out and fled to Arkansas to stay with mom's brother and his family. It was MUCH warmer there. I was MUCH happier. The older I get, the more I realize cold weather isn't as bothersome to kids as it is to adults. For a kid, there are snow days, sledding, french toast breakfasts and snowball fights. For adults, there is driving through the yucky weather, slipping and sliding to work and worrying about your kids getting sick. However, we still have the french toast breakfasts, so there's that at least.

With this horrible winter weather, I had at least hoped for a day off of work. I've been really stressed lately, and really, it all stems from work. The kids get multiple days of no school, but us adults have to still somehow make it to work. This week, I give adulthood a great big thumbs down.

For tonight at least, I am going to cuddle up with my family, watch a movie, and maybe play some games. And maybe, JUST MAYBE, us adults in the midwest will have a snow day tomorrow too.

Happy Birthday Brooklynn!

One year ago today, I became an Auntie. I had no idea how much I could love a child that didn't belong to me. But from the very first time I saw her wrinkly little face and her huge ton of black hair (which she would lose most of later, of course), I was smitten. Let me tell you how my day went on February 1st, 2010 (it's very brief):

My sister, Brittany, had called me Sunday night and told me that she was going to the hospital to have her baby. This was very bittersweet for me. Sweet because I was oh so excited to meet this tiny brand new person, but bitter because my sister had cruelly decided to move to Arkansas (a 10 hour drive for us), marry Blake and settle down. So I was in Indiana when she called me to tell me she was going to the hospital. Anyway, Monday, February 1st, I had classes all day and I couldn't miss them because it was my last semester of school before graduation and I really needed to be there. I drove home as fast as my little VolksWagon could take me (which is pretty fast), picked Kennedy up from school and sped to my parent's house because they have a webcam and I do not. We finally got the call that Brooklynn had arrived and Blake took Britt's laptop into the nursery so we could catch our first glimpses of the new baby. And I cried the whole time. I was emotional all day because I really wanted to be with my sister (also because I was pregnant at the time), but I somehow managed to not cry...at least until I saw this beautiful, chicken-legged baby with a huge mess of black hair that looked like it had blond highlights. It looked like she had gone to the salon to prepare for her grand entrance into the world. Cutest. Thing. Ever.

I don't get to see little miss Punkin Head as often as I would like. I've only gotten to snuggle with her on a handful of occasions in this last year. But I couldn't love her any more, even if she were mine. I love my sister for so many reasons, but mostly because she gave me the most wonderful neice south of the Mississippi.

Happy First Birthday Punkin Head!!!

Love, Auntie