Mmmmm So GOOD! Sunday, Aug 31 2008

I found this recipe on a blog I love called All Things Nice and it’s so delicious!  Perfect for a holiday weekend…

Roasted Garlic & Prawn Pasta

(Serves 4)
20 prawns, shelled & deveined
4-5 ripe Roma tomatoes, diced
6 cloves of garlic
1 medium white onion, diced
A handful of fresh sweet basil, roughly chopped
1 tsp of chili flakes
60 ml of dry white wine
1 tsp of sea salt
3 tbs of olive oil
Fresh pasta for 4

Method:
Pre-heat the oven to 400F. Wrap the garlic in foil and then roast in the oven for 20 minutes. Once ready, remove from oven and let the garlic cool. Squeeze the garlic out of the skins and set aside. Discard the skins.

Heat 2 tbs of oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Saute the onions for 5 minutes. Add the chili flakes and fry for another minute. Add the roasted garlic and fry for about 40 seconds.
Add the diced tomatoes to the pan and turn down the heat slightly. Gently fry for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to the boil. This is for the pasta. If you’re using fresh pasta then it only requires about 4 minutes of cooking. I like to have to water ready so I can cook the pasta just before the sauce and prawns are ready.

Now for the prawns — they should be cooked last or at the same time the pasta is cooking.
Heat 1 tsp of olive oil in a frypan over a medium heat. Once the oil gets all swirly in the pan, throw in the prawns. Saute them for about 30 seconds and then add the wine. Shake the pan to move the prawns around for about 40 seconds and then remove them from the heat.

Drain the pasta and add it to the tomato sauce. Throw in the prawns and stir well to coat them in the sauce. Add a handful of freshly chopped sweet basil and then serve immediately.

Because missing out on good food means missing out on part of life.

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I Love Traditions! Saturday, Aug 30 2008

Yes, I’m a sucker for traditions.  I think they give you something fun to look forward to every year and are a great way to properly celebrate things that happen in life.  I love to make up my own.  For example, birthdays are “free pass days” at home.  In my family, we have a rule that you can never yell at or get mad at someone on their birthday.  The birthday person also is allowed to get whatever they want for the full 24 hour period– so if it’s my birthday and I wake up at 3:00 am wanting mint chocolate chip ice cream, all I have to do is ask and I shall receive.  It’s great!!

mmmmm...chocolate

Speaking of ice cream, I was talking to Len the other day at work about a tradition he heard about that we both agreed was really great– ice cream for dinner day once a year!  I guess it can work for anyone, but it’s most fun for families with small kids and makes great memories for everyone to look back on later.  Why not, right?  Like my dad used to say, “Ice cream really is okay for any meal.  It’s got milk, eggs, calcium…”.  My dad was really great at creating traditions (for example, my Thanksgiving doesn’t feel complete without my no-mushroom stuffing and a football game to watch!).  He is also a great cook and makes wonderful food on holidays.  Because he moved far away, we now have a tradition of going to Cracker Barrel for breakfast every time I visit him.  Not nearly as good as seeing him all the time– but definitely delicious.

One tradition that my “Grammy” started that I now miss (she passed away 4 years ago) was to always call me on my birthday– first thing in the morning– to sing happy birthday to me.  I loved it and I now do the same for my family if I can’t be there in person to sing to them on their special day.  Today is actually her birthday.  She would have been 90 years old today, if she were still with us.

Anyway, I’m always keeping my eye out for new traditions.  It’s never too late to start!!

…Because having traditions make special moments even better; you know what to look forward to for the next year!

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A Painting I LOVE… Friday, Aug 29 2008

Georgia O’Keefe is really inspiring to me because of her beautiful paintings as well as her interesting life. 

Once I read a story about her that I will never forget (which ties into my “everything happens for a reason” mindset).  Apparently, when O’Keefe was in high school she had a tendency to draw very small images of everything she worked on.  One of her teachers noticed this and told her not to draw tiny pictures any longer.  Just to spite her teachers order, she painted an enormous poppy.  It is ironic that later in life she became famous for this exact type of artwork.

…Because she lived to be 99 years old and this proves that when you do what you love, you live long and prosper!

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Listen to the Inner Voice! Thursday, Aug 28 2008

The more time I spend around people (and the older I get), I realize more and more that it’s so important to stick to my intuition.  Sometimes I get a gut feeling that something isn’t right or I have an idea or plan that other people may not understand.  I need to ALWAYS trust my feeling. I’m not saying to ignore everyone else, but, weigh their opinions carefully. 

Only you can understand you and learning to trust your instinct will guide you at all times.  There have been so many past instances in which I have tried to ignore that dreaded “gut feeling” and have learned now to embrace the feeling and listen to it.  This way you end up with no regrets.

One example that inspired this post happened just this morning: In the process of remodeling our kitchen, we have ended up with a lot of random items that we have decided to sell on Craigslist, if possible.  I created a post for an old cast-iron sink that we no longer need and waited to see if anyone was interested.  I was happy to see an email from someone in Maryland this morning telling me that he would love to come pick it up and asked me to call him to set up a time.  I called him and left a message, giving him my cell phone number in the process so he could call me back.  He immediately called back and I got a strange feeling in the first 10 seconds of our conversation. 

The man started to ask me questions and told me that it would be hard for him to pick up the sink at night since he lives in Baltimore.  When I asked him what time would typically work for him he didn’t give me a straight answer.  He asked me where I worked and I told him “Arlington” and he suggested I bring the sink to work and he could come pick it up during the day and meet me at my car.  When I told him that his plan essentially made no sense because I live about a mile and a half from where I work, he started to ramble on.  I also told him that it was too heavy for me to lift into the car and bring to work (this thing is probably 90lbs) and he suggested I get someone to put it in the car for me. 

Then, he asked me for my address.

At this point I said “my husband can call you and give it to you if you set up a time to meet him, but I can’t do it.” and ended up getting off the phone really quickly.  Afterwards I was really glad I didn’t just give him information unnecessarily.  Sure, he can probably do a reverse look up on my cell phone and he could find some things out about me… but he certainly isn’t ending up with my home address.  What a weirdo.  This could have amounted to nothing OR it could have ended up being dangerous. 

You never know– so listen when you are trying to tell yourself something!!

…Because you listen to yourself talk all day anyway.  You might as well listen to your inner thoughts.

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A Quote I Love… Wednesday, Aug 27 2008

“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.”

~Mark Twain

Mark Twain's desk!

…Because living an honest life means enjoying every day because you know you truly earned it.

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Appreciate Where You Are AND Were! Wednesday, Aug 27 2008

I need to go to Alaska so I can appreciate it in a year...

I am a big fan of keeping track of dates of upcoming events, appointments, and things to remember.  If I didn’t write things down and keep an online calendar, I would be completely lost and would have no idea what is going on at any point in time (especially on weekends).  I know I have blogged about my love of certain types of organization before, as well as my undying love for my joint gmail calendar; this love has not wavered.

One thing that I find so important that I love to do, is to go back into the calendar archives and see where I was a year ago.  This way, I appreciate each day as I go… and I also have fond memories looking back on where I was and what I was working on exactly a year before.  Exactly a year ago today, Mark and I were meeting with the priest who married us, as well as the owners of Potomac Point Vineyard– the venue for our wedding.  Remembering the chaos that went along with planning a wedding a year ago (as well as the laughs and the memories that were created in the process) makes me happy and makes me want to do something wonderful today to look back on a year from now.

…Because even though the years fly by, the memories last forever…

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Sleeping Well Means Living Well. Friday, Aug 22 2008

This little guy has the right idea...

I am a huge fan of sleep.  If I could sleep in every day I would; however, I would probably be quite lazy and would end up getting nothing done all day.   One of the things I look forward to most on the weekends is having the opportunity to rest well (as well as relax, but sleep is a part of relaxation). 

I thought it would be a good idea to post some of the “Tips to Get Better Sleep” I found on WebMD since sleep is one of the things you need to enjoy life and prosper!

1. Cut caffeine. Simply put, caffeine can keep you awake. It can stay in your body longer than you might think – the effects of caffeine can take as long as eight hours to wear off. So if you drink a cup of coffee in the afternoon and are still tossing at night, caffeine might be the reason. Cutting out caffeine at least four to six hours before bedtime can help you fall asleep easier.
2. Avoid alcohol as a sleep aid. Alcohol may initially help you fall asleep, but it also causes disturbances in sleep resulting in less restful sleep. An alcohol drink before bedtime may make it more likely that you will wake up during the night.
3. Relax before bedtime.Stress not only makes you miserable, it wreaks havoc on your sleep. Develop some kind of pre-sleep ritual to break the connection between all the day’s stress and bedtime. These rituals can be as short as 10 minutes or as long as an hour.

Some people find relief in making a list of all the stressors of the day, along with a plan to deal with them this can act as “closure” to the day. Combining this with a period of relaxation perhaps by reading something light, meditating, aromatherapy, light stretching, or taking a hot bath can also help you get better sleep. And don’t look at the clock! That “tick-tock” will just tick you off.

1. Exercise at the right time for you. Regular exercise can help you get a good night’s sleep. The timing and intensity of exercise seems to play a key role in its effects on sleep. If you are the type of person who gets energized or becomes more alert after exercise, it may be best not to exercise in the evening. Regular exercise in the morning even can help relieve insomnia, according to a study.
2. Keep your bedroom quiet, dark, and comfortable. For many people, even the slightest noise or light can disturb sleep like the purring of a cat or the light from your laptop or TV. Use earplugs, window blinds or curtains, and an electric blanket or air conditioner everything possible to create an ideal sleep environment. And don’t use the overhead light if you need to get up at night; use a small night-light instead. Ideal room temperatures for sleeping are between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures above 75 or below about 54 can disrupt sleep.
3. Eat right, sleep tight.Try not to go to bed hungry, but avoid heavy meals before bedtime. An over-full belly can keep you up. Some foods can help, though. Milk contains tryptophan, which is a sleep-promoting substance. Other foods that may help promote sleep include tuna, halibut, pumpkin, artichokes, avocados, almonds, eggs, bok choy, peaches, walnuts, apricots, oats, asparagus, potatoes, buckwheat, and bananas.

Also, try not to drink fluids after 8 p.m. This can keep you from having to get up to use the bathroom during the night.

1. Restrict nicotine. Having a smoke before bed — although it feels relaxing actually puts a stimulant into your bloodstream. The effects of nicotine are similar to those of caffeine. Nicotine can keep you up and awaken you at night. It should be avoided particularly near bedtime and if you wake up in the middle of the night.
2. Avoid napping. Napping can only make matters worse if you usually have problems falling asleep. If you do nap, keep it short. A brief 15-20-minute snooze about eight hours after you get up in the morning can actually be rejuvenating.
3. Keep pets off the bed. Does your pet sleep with you? This, too, may cause you to awaken during the night, either from allergies or pet movements. Fido and Fluffy might be better off on the floor than on your sheets.
4. Avoid watching TV, eating, and discussing emotional issues in bed. The bed should be used for sleep and sex only. If not, you can end up associating the bed with distracting activities that could make it difficult for you to fall asleep.

…Because you spend 1/3 of your life sleeping.  You might as well do it right.

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An Ad I love… Thursday, Aug 21 2008

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Mmmmmmm & M’s Thursday, Aug 21 2008

In honor of the cookies (from Heidelberg Bakery in Arlington)  that were given out at work today, I wanted to blog about my love for M&M’s.  Here is an actual picture I took with my camera phone (excuse the horrible quality):

SO GOOD

I will never get sick of them and think they are the best candy in the entire world.  They make me happy and can pretty much make me forget about anything else that is annoying me at the exact time of receiving them.  I basically enjoy life more when I’ve got M&M’s on hand.  I could eat them instead of a meal daily– but hold myself back because of their lack of real nutritional value. 

My favorite kind are the classic “plain” milk chocolate variety, but I do also enjoy the peanut, peanut butter, and almond ones from time to time.  I’m not a huge fan of the dark chocolate… or the crispy ones (but I don’t really see them around anymore).  The mini M&M’s are a disappointment.  I think in order to enjoy life, you’ve got to eat candy every now and then (okay, well, if you’re me you’ll eat it every day). 

How the painting really SHOULD have looked...

I also think that a person’s favorite candy is as important to remember as their birthday.  My mom is a Reese’s Cup and Peppermint Pattie lady.  My husband is a big fan of Snickers and Twix.  I always make a point to remember my favorite peoples’ favorite candy because nothing is better than showing up with the goodies randomly (that’s what CVS is for, right?).

…Because they melt in your mouth; not in your hands!

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Surprises Are a (Sometimes Good) Part of Life Wednesday, Aug 20 2008

I’m a big fan of fun surprises. 

I get really excited when people surprise me (like when my husband took me to my favorite small town of all time: Nashville, Indiana for a Jeff Bates concert) and I love to surprise other people.  I think that surprises are a big part of enjoying life to the fullest because sometimes things are appreciated much more when they are unexpected.  They don’t have to be expensive or planned down to every last detail; sometimes surprising people can be as small as thanking them or telling them they are appreciated.

This was probably not a "good surprise"...

I have learned in the recent past that surprising people with your maturity can go a long way.  Being there for someone when you have no real obligation or helping with something that you could have easily avoided speaks volumes about your character and makes other people feel loved and important.  This, to me, is the best gift you can give and really helps you realize that you can make a difference.  Giving thoughtful gifts that have no price tag are the ones that are remembered later.  Also, we are so used to rushing around and getting wrapped up in our own dramatic lives that we forget to tell people how much they mean to us. 

I remembered an old friend today that I haven’t spoken to in a couple of years and decided to call her to tell her I wanted to see how things were going since I last saw her.  She was so surprised that I took the time to call her and said that my phone call “made her week.”  I didn’t realize that this small gesture could make such a big difference   Now I’m glad I called.

…Because surprises often lead to reasons to celebrate later!

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