this is our happily ever after

1 1/2 hours until 2007

After the non-stop rush of the holidays Brian and I decided to stay at home this New Year's Eve.  Being that we live in "little Saigon" we are having a spectacular fireworks show put on by our neighbors.  Pretty cool...until I want to go to sleep!  We enjoyed some homemade soup that a friend gave us and I've been working on my 2007 calendar.  Bought it at Target, dated it, labeled b-days, holidays, etc {spent a good hour on it, plus some of my calendar scrapbook supplies that i had been hoarding} only to realize that....well look for yourself

 

yep...good old perfectionist me skipped January 22...seriously...the entire calendar is ruined, because everything after January 22 is one day off.  Yep, thought about just going over the dates, but then realized that I have rubons for all the holidays already on the page.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to cry, cuss, scream, or throw something.  So now, I have to start over, but I won't be able to find alot of the rub ons I used because they were from a few years ago.  Lovely...hoping that this is not a preview for my 2007.  Seriously!

Earlier today I typed up my 2007 Organization/Simplification list...basically a detailed list of every nook and cranny that I want to clean out either pitch the stuff or donate it.  Seriously ready to simplify my life. 

Happy New Year to You!

home for the holidays

There's no place like home for the holidays.  Arrived in St. Louis Sunday evening to spend Christmas with the family.  Brian arrives on Friday morning.  We'll spend Christmas at Lake of the Ozarks with my grandparents, aunt/uncle, and cousins.  Can't wait to take pictures and make memories. 

I've come down with a nasty sore throat and chest congestion.  Not cool!  Loaded up on mucinex, airborn, and tylenol pm to get through the night.  I still have some shopping to do, cookies to make, and friends to see, so hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow.  More soon...

so much to do....so little time...that's the way I'm feeling right now.  I leave on Sunday afternoon for my Christmas vacation with my family.  Brian will be joining us on Friday.  I still have some Christmas card orders to fill (today's project), gifts to make, a mountain of laundry to conquer, a house to clean, gifts to buy, gifts to wrap, packing to be done, etc. etc. 

I've started reading another book.  I usually have 2 books going at once, as I do now.  One is usually a novel...right now I'm reading The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve and one is usually a non-fiction book by a Christian author...right now I"m reading Having a Mary Spirit.    I love this book, from the first paragraph I felt like it was written for me.  Can you identify with these words?

"I've always dreamed of being much more than I am.  More organized, more disciplined, more loving....much more "much more," if you know that I mean!  Each January I set out on a new self-improvement program.  This year I'll get in shape.  This year I"ll keep my house clean.  This year I'll send out birthday cards....on time."  " Working toward these noble goals has left me with little more than a cupboard full of half-empty vitamin bottles, several pairs of slightly worn running shoes, and enough cleaning products to Lysol a small third-world country.  Not to mention a a shelf filled with dust-covered devotionals"  If you can identify with this passage then you must read both of these books.  Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World and Having a Mary Spirit.  Both are by Joanne Weaver and can be purchased at Amazon.com.  I would put up the link, but my computer is being stubborn.  I have read the first book cover to cover..twice and the second book is equally as wonderful.  I find myself highlighting and making notes on every page.  It would be great for a women's bible study since there are discussion questions in the back of the book. 

Now, onto heart matters.  I thought I had finished all of my testing only to get a letter in the mail that I need a pap smear.  SERIOUSLY, so glad that told me 2 months ago.  Now I have to wait to get an appt with my OB-GYN {ladies you know how long that can take} and then get the results to the transplant team, and then maybe I'll be finished.  SERIOUSLY!  I did have an appt with my cardioligist on Monday and he said I looked great and to keep doing what I'm doing...resting, taking my diuretics, limiting my activities, etc.  I won't see him for 3 months (hopefully). 

Well enough blogging for today...gotta go check some things off my list.  Blessings

cold winter days = homemade soup

I LOVE making homemade soup, especially in the winter.  Enjoy this recipe from Giada for Winter Minestrone.  You can download it from food network or see the recipe below.  Enjoy!

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
3 ounces thinly sliced pancetta, coarsely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound Swiss chard, stems trimmed, leaves coarsely chopped
1 russet potato, peeled, cubed
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 fresh rosemary sprig
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained, rinsed
2 (14-ounce) cans low-sodium beef broth
1 ounce piece Parmesan cheese rind
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
Salt and pepper

Heat the oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, pancetta, and garlic. Saute until the onion is translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the Swiss chard and potato; saute for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and rosemary sprig. Simmer until the chard is wilted and the tomatoes break down, about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, blend 3/4 cup of the beans with 1/4 cup of the broth in a processor until almost smooth. Add the pureed bean mixture, remaining broth, and Parmesan cheese rind to the vegetable mixture. Simmer until the potato pieces are tender, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Stir in the whole beans and parsley. Simmer until the beans are heated through and the soup is thick, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Discard Parmesan rind and rosemary sprig (the leaves will have fallen off of the stem.)

Ladle the soup into bowls and serve.

Tis the Season

Went to a great Christmas party for Brian's department at Bayer.  It's always fun to be able to put a face with the names of his colleagues that I frequently hear about.  And it's even better to hear their Brian stories :)  It seems that Brian is very well liked and respected....that warms my heart.  Got a busy weekend planned....looking forward to hanging out with Carrie Beth and my aunts/uncles/cousins tomorrow night.  Going to go finish Kite Runner before i go to bed.  If you haven't read it yet, you must add it to your reading list.  Incredibly moving story about friendship, family, loyalty, courage, and Afghanistan's history for the past 30 or so years.  It's quite gritty at times, but only to show the reality of life in Afghanistan.