Lately I've been thinking a lot about time.
Not how quickly it passes or anything.
But finding time in the day or making space for things.
What boggles my mind is how other people find time to do everything.
How do you ...
work full time
raise a family
make healthy, delicious meals
exercise and take care of yourself
write a blog
apply to graduate school
go to graduate school
find a job
plan a wedding
have a hobby
read books
read the paper
check your social media accounts
watch TV
spend time with your significant other
see friends
and relax!
Okay, so I've commented before that I think there are a few things we could do currently that would free up some time. Like, not having a 45 minute commute one way. Or having a dishwasher. Right there, if my commute were say, 15 minutes one way, I'd have approximately 1.5 hours longer every night to do things. Wow. That amazes me.
But, that is not going to change for us within the next year. So what other options do I have? I don't feel like I spend all that much time watching TV. Rob and I probably watch one show a night usually while we eat. Is the trick to eat at the table and get up and keep doing stuff after you eat for 20 minutes? That's not very appealing.
I am seriously in awe of people who go back to school and still work full time. I literally don't know how they do it. (I'm also impressed with their ability to decide what to go to school for. I keep waffling about what I may do in the future).
What am I missing? How do you do it?
Are you doing it all? Do you have any tips to share?
Friday, September 14, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
An Adventure to the Grocery Store
I know, you're thinking, my, she really must be running out of material already. This post is obviously going to be riveting. A trip to the grocery store. Really, Carolyn?
But stick with me here.
Rob and I go to the grocery store together every week. Before we go, we sit down together and meal plan for the week and make the list. We check the ad paper and look at the coupons we have. I've convinced Rob to let me assign a meal to every day of the week instead of just seeing what we feel like. It's helpful to me (and part of my Type A, let's face it) to have it all planned out so if Rob's not home yet I can just start dinner and know that's the plan.
Rob usually drives and parks in the same area -- near the road, almost the farthest spot possible.
We frequently wonder if the employees at the Pick N' Save like us or think "Oh God, here comes that couple" when we walk in the door. I like to think that they like us.
We have our routine -- Rob pushes the cart, I'm in charge of the list. (Isn't crossing things off of a list just the best?)
(Are we a 70 year old retired couple?!)
This is where we veer from the bounds of what I consider most people's shopping habits. (I'm sure we're not the only ones out there who do this. Maybe under the age of 50. But not the only ones). This week we needed new trash bags. First of all, we buy two different kinds. One for the kitchen garbage. The other for the non-paper recycling. Technically we have co-mingled recycling, but if you put it in the paper bag it gets used up too quickly. And there is just something that makes me uncomfortable with putting a used can in a trash can with no bag. But you can't recycle plastic bags. And we recycle quite a bit and the garbage bags we buy for the garbage are kind of expensive. So, we buy a second type of bag that is cheaper and then Rob just dumps out the contents in the big recycling bin and throws out the bag. (Whew. I didn't realize how much back story I'd need to write for this).
SO. We are in the store looking at the garbage bags. We've bought them before -- should be easy to pick out what you want. First up, recycling bags. Roundy's bags are on sale! The twist tie ones are like 14.1 cents each. (We look at the price per unit. For every bag we consider. This is why -- I kid you not -- we spent at least 5 minutes in that aisle looking at the garbage bags). Then, we get the Glad flexy bags withhout Febreeze because those bags STINK. But wait -- what about all of these other bags. How much are they? Decomposable bags end up being the cheapest at 13.2 cents each (or something like that. It was 2 days ago, I'm paraphrasing).
I must say, we don't do this every week or with every item. But it amazes me how much time we can spend in the grocery store.
I'm so glad that we do it together though. I think it turns something that could be a chore into a fun adventure!
But stick with me here.
Rob and I go to the grocery store together every week. Before we go, we sit down together and meal plan for the week and make the list. We check the ad paper and look at the coupons we have. I've convinced Rob to let me assign a meal to every day of the week instead of just seeing what we feel like. It's helpful to me (and part of my Type A, let's face it) to have it all planned out so if Rob's not home yet I can just start dinner and know that's the plan.
Rob usually drives and parks in the same area -- near the road, almost the farthest spot possible.
We frequently wonder if the employees at the Pick N' Save like us or think "Oh God, here comes that couple" when we walk in the door. I like to think that they like us.
We have our routine -- Rob pushes the cart, I'm in charge of the list. (Isn't crossing things off of a list just the best?)
(Are we a 70 year old retired couple?!)
This is where we veer from the bounds of what I consider most people's shopping habits. (I'm sure we're not the only ones out there who do this. Maybe under the age of 50. But not the only ones). This week we needed new trash bags. First of all, we buy two different kinds. One for the kitchen garbage. The other for the non-paper recycling. Technically we have co-mingled recycling, but if you put it in the paper bag it gets used up too quickly. And there is just something that makes me uncomfortable with putting a used can in a trash can with no bag. But you can't recycle plastic bags. And we recycle quite a bit and the garbage bags we buy for the garbage are kind of expensive. So, we buy a second type of bag that is cheaper and then Rob just dumps out the contents in the big recycling bin and throws out the bag. (Whew. I didn't realize how much back story I'd need to write for this).
SO. We are in the store looking at the garbage bags. We've bought them before -- should be easy to pick out what you want. First up, recycling bags. Roundy's bags are on sale! The twist tie ones are like 14.1 cents each. (We look at the price per unit. For every bag we consider. This is why -- I kid you not -- we spent at least 5 minutes in that aisle looking at the garbage bags). Then, we get the Glad flexy bags withhout Febreeze because those bags STINK. But wait -- what about all of these other bags. How much are they? Decomposable bags end up being the cheapest at 13.2 cents each (or something like that. It was 2 days ago, I'm paraphrasing).
I must say, we don't do this every week or with every item. But it amazes me how much time we can spend in the grocery store.
I'm so glad that we do it together though. I think it turns something that could be a chore into a fun adventure!
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Not my day
Today was not my day.
I should have known when I was woken up at like 3:30am with a terrible charley horse in my calf.
Work was not great. We've been having network and internet issues for a week or two now and this morning the internet was running as slow as molasses. Very frustrating considering I was trying to create over 20 Google Spreadsheets. By the time the afternoon rolled around I was antsy. I realized that I think it's because today I had nothing scheduled. And I didn't even have an impromptu meeting with my boss or anything. It was literally me. In my cubicle. In front of my computer. Seems like ripe conditions to make anyone go mad!
So, I come home excited to go for a run and put the work day behind me. I'd had a glass of milk and a banana, so I thought my calf wouldn't give me any problems.
Before I headed out I brushed my hand on the back of one of the kitchen chairs and it cut me/maybe gave me a sliver. I ignored it, put on my sneakers and headed out.
I've been doing this plan I got from Self magazine that is supposed to help you loose 10 pounds in 5 weeks (if you follow all the directions. I'm not so good at only eating the recommended amount of calories). Today's cardio was to do intervals. Sprint for 8 seconds at level 10 (10 is the highest), then back down for 12 seconds at level 6 for 20 minutes. (This exercise is impossible to do at the gym -- you have to do it outside -- the machines just don't react that quickly). And this week I was to add hills or carry weights, etc. Since I live in the Kettle Moraine, I thought I'll just go around the neighborhood instead of running on the Eisenbahn (a paved railroad track that is flat).
So, I head out, start the warm-up walk. After about 5 minutes it's time to sprint. So, I kick up the pace and BAM. Excruciating thigh pain. I thought about turning around but I didn't. I was determined that this exercise was happening. I did the best I could, but it wasn't great. I thought that maybe my muscle would warm up and I'd be fine. Wrong. So, I could really only jog -- sprinting just caused too much pain. Worse, I couldn't even jog the whole time. I was really sucking wind and I just thought, it's not worth it. So, I walked. I was out there exercising for 30 minutes at least, but it was disappointing.
Oh, the other thing is that I keep a Post-It in my iPod arm carrier with the combination to the lock I use at the gym. Two weeks ago, I noticed it was gone. And since I'd been running outside for a bit, I completely spaced on the combo. Luckily Rob has the exact same lock with the exact same combination. So, he gave it to me again last week. (It took 2 weeks of me going to the gym before I remembered to ask -- after a desperate text plea for help). I wrote it on a bright pink Post-It and stuck it in the arm band thing. Well, when I started to sprint -- it came out and flew behind me! I went back to pick it up because I didn't want to litter. But I thought, well, that location isn't going to work for this run. So, I stuck it in my bra. Despite having taken a shower, I now have a little pink square on my chest. Apparently Post-It coloring will come off with sweat.
I looked up online and I think I have the symptoms where you should apply heat not ice. Of course, the dual cold/hot pack I had was in the freezer. I put it in boiling water but it's just a little over room temperature. It's just really not my day!
I should have known when I was woken up at like 3:30am with a terrible charley horse in my calf.
Work was not great. We've been having network and internet issues for a week or two now and this morning the internet was running as slow as molasses. Very frustrating considering I was trying to create over 20 Google Spreadsheets. By the time the afternoon rolled around I was antsy. I realized that I think it's because today I had nothing scheduled. And I didn't even have an impromptu meeting with my boss or anything. It was literally me. In my cubicle. In front of my computer. Seems like ripe conditions to make anyone go mad!
So, I come home excited to go for a run and put the work day behind me. I'd had a glass of milk and a banana, so I thought my calf wouldn't give me any problems.
Before I headed out I brushed my hand on the back of one of the kitchen chairs and it cut me/maybe gave me a sliver. I ignored it, put on my sneakers and headed out.
I've been doing this plan I got from Self magazine that is supposed to help you loose 10 pounds in 5 weeks (if you follow all the directions. I'm not so good at only eating the recommended amount of calories). Today's cardio was to do intervals. Sprint for 8 seconds at level 10 (10 is the highest), then back down for 12 seconds at level 6 for 20 minutes. (This exercise is impossible to do at the gym -- you have to do it outside -- the machines just don't react that quickly). And this week I was to add hills or carry weights, etc. Since I live in the Kettle Moraine, I thought I'll just go around the neighborhood instead of running on the Eisenbahn (a paved railroad track that is flat).
So, I head out, start the warm-up walk. After about 5 minutes it's time to sprint. So, I kick up the pace and BAM. Excruciating thigh pain. I thought about turning around but I didn't. I was determined that this exercise was happening. I did the best I could, but it wasn't great. I thought that maybe my muscle would warm up and I'd be fine. Wrong. So, I could really only jog -- sprinting just caused too much pain. Worse, I couldn't even jog the whole time. I was really sucking wind and I just thought, it's not worth it. So, I walked. I was out there exercising for 30 minutes at least, but it was disappointing.
Oh, the other thing is that I keep a Post-It in my iPod arm carrier with the combination to the lock I use at the gym. Two weeks ago, I noticed it was gone. And since I'd been running outside for a bit, I completely spaced on the combo. Luckily Rob has the exact same lock with the exact same combination. So, he gave it to me again last week. (It took 2 weeks of me going to the gym before I remembered to ask -- after a desperate text plea for help). I wrote it on a bright pink Post-It and stuck it in the arm band thing. Well, when I started to sprint -- it came out and flew behind me! I went back to pick it up because I didn't want to litter. But I thought, well, that location isn't going to work for this run. So, I stuck it in my bra. Despite having taken a shower, I now have a little pink square on my chest. Apparently Post-It coloring will come off with sweat.
I looked up online and I think I have the symptoms where you should apply heat not ice. Of course, the dual cold/hot pack I had was in the freezer. I put it in boiling water but it's just a little over room temperature. It's just really not my day!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Road America
Well, last week was our first full week with Rob back to work and classes in session. Rob worked late Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights so there was quite a stretch when we didn't really see each other. We still are getting used to the schedule ... we ate dinner at 9:15pm on Friday. *Le sigh* you just can't prepare complicated meals on weeknights, even if it is Friday.
We finished watching the second season of Sherlock too. I don't know what we're going to do for another year or so until the next season comes out!
On Saturday, we had a nice time celebrating Cole's 2nd birthday and seeing family. I don't have any pictures but it was so fun. Kids are so cute.
On Sunday this weekend, Rob and I headed up to Road America in Elkhart Lake with my parents. We went last year to see some races so we made plans again this year. This time we saw vintage cars. It fun. It was a beautiful fall day, so great to be outside. We had a picnic lunch and got to visit and see some pretty fast cars! (I was the one acting like a 10 year old boy yelling "woah!" as they went by).
Thanks Mom & Dad for treating us!
We finished watching the second season of Sherlock too. I don't know what we're going to do for another year or so until the next season comes out!
On Saturday, we had a nice time celebrating Cole's 2nd birthday and seeing family. I don't have any pictures but it was so fun. Kids are so cute.
On Sunday this weekend, Rob and I headed up to Road America in Elkhart Lake with my parents. We went last year to see some races so we made plans again this year. This time we saw vintage cars. It fun. It was a beautiful fall day, so great to be outside. We had a picnic lunch and got to visit and see some pretty fast cars! (I was the one acting like a 10 year old boy yelling "woah!" as they went by).
Thanks Mom & Dad for treating us!
Monday, September 10, 2012
An Outfit Misadventure
Today I wore a ridiculous outfit to work.
It wouldn't have been that big of a deal -- it's Monday -- who cares. Except a new employee started today who I met and then went out to a welcome lunch for. In hindsight, I felt pretty foolish for my outfit choice.
Rob commented when I got home that I looked like a 2 year old that dressed themselves.
Here are some pictures for your entertainment.
So, not only was a wearing my "golf pants" that I've had since high school ... and are currently about 2-3 sizes too big for me, I am wearing them with a hunter green long-sleeve shirt. I don't think it's that bad, but Rob said they don't match. Worse are the pants I think -- the picture doesn't do them justice -- the crotch is about 3 inches too long and they have those funny knee stick out marks. Oh, and the button fell off this morning when I was getting ready. I thought about changing, but didn't. Wrong choice.
But, let's face it. The icing on the cake are the shoes and socks. These "gobi boot" types I got in Spain have seen better days and are a questionable fashion choice in the first place ... not even mentioning the fact that they are dubiously work appropriate. Then, there are the orange stripey socks that stick out just a bit which make it all even more comical.
What was I thinking?!
It wouldn't have been that big of a deal -- it's Monday -- who cares. Except a new employee started today who I met and then went out to a welcome lunch for. In hindsight, I felt pretty foolish for my outfit choice.
Rob commented when I got home that I looked like a 2 year old that dressed themselves.
Here are some pictures for your entertainment.
So, not only was a wearing my "golf pants" that I've had since high school ... and are currently about 2-3 sizes too big for me, I am wearing them with a hunter green long-sleeve shirt. I don't think it's that bad, but Rob said they don't match. Worse are the pants I think -- the picture doesn't do them justice -- the crotch is about 3 inches too long and they have those funny knee stick out marks. Oh, and the button fell off this morning when I was getting ready. I thought about changing, but didn't. Wrong choice.
What was I thinking?!
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Labor Day
Have I mentioned ever how much I wish I had a three day weekend every weekend? I feel like we got so much accomplished but also had to have a ton of fun.
Picking up from the BBQ chicken post, that night we went and saw the new Bourne movie -- the Bourne Legacy. That was pretty fun. It was nice to get out of the house past dark and go on a date!
Monday we had plans to go down to Milwaukee to use a Groupon I had gotten for a tour of the Pabst Mansion. If you haven't ever gone and live in the Milwaukee area, I highly recommend it. It is seriously a hidden gem in the city. Literally -- it's so easy to miss when driving down Wisconsin Avenue. But the woodwork and decor inside are miraculous. Rob and I kept lamenting throughout the tour that you just don't see craftsmanship like that these days.
(yep, still can't figure out how to rotate pictures once they're in here -- any suggestions??)
Before we left, Rob put in the crock pot this delicious recipe for ragu from his Joy of Cooking book. Again, I can take zero credit for this masterpiece, but let me tell you -- it was good. The only change to the recipe we did was added peas for some extra vegetable. Oh, I would also suggest just buying 2 cans of crushed tomatoes. Why you need to buy one can of whole ones and then crush them yourself is beyond me. He also put in 2 carrots and 2 celery instead of just 1 each. And used fresh basil from our basil plant rather than dried. Served over whole wheat penne with a glass of wine from the bottle we needed for the recipe .... I'm so spoiled it was such a wonderful treat and a great end to the weekend!
Picking up from the BBQ chicken post, that night we went and saw the new Bourne movie -- the Bourne Legacy. That was pretty fun. It was nice to get out of the house past dark and go on a date!
Monday we had plans to go down to Milwaukee to use a Groupon I had gotten for a tour of the Pabst Mansion. If you haven't ever gone and live in the Milwaukee area, I highly recommend it. It is seriously a hidden gem in the city. Literally -- it's so easy to miss when driving down Wisconsin Avenue. But the woodwork and decor inside are miraculous. Rob and I kept lamenting throughout the tour that you just don't see craftsmanship like that these days.
(yep, still can't figure out how to rotate pictures once they're in here -- any suggestions??)
Before we left, Rob put in the crock pot this delicious recipe for ragu from his Joy of Cooking book. Again, I can take zero credit for this masterpiece, but let me tell you -- it was good. The only change to the recipe we did was added peas for some extra vegetable. Oh, I would also suggest just buying 2 cans of crushed tomatoes. Why you need to buy one can of whole ones and then crush them yourself is beyond me. He also put in 2 carrots and 2 celery instead of just 1 each. And used fresh basil from our basil plant rather than dried. Served over whole wheat penne with a glass of wine from the bottle we needed for the recipe .... I'm so spoiled it was such a wonderful treat and a great end to the weekend!
|
Hearty Meat Ragú
(Rombauer, Irma, Becker Rombauer, Marion, and Becker,
Ethan. Joy of Cooking. 1997.
Scribner: New York.)
2 ½ quarts sauce
This recipe makes a large batch of chunky
meat-and-vegetable tomato sauce. Serve with pasta such as ziti or penne.
Freeze leftovers for another meal.
Pat dry and cut into 1-inch cubes:
2 pounds boneless
stewing beef, such as chuck, short-rib meat, or bottom round
Heat in a large skillet over medium-high heat:
2 tablespoons olive
oil, or as needed
Add the meat in batches and brown on all dies, being
careful not the crowd the pan. With a slotted spoon, transfer to a 4- to 5-
quart slow cooker. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of fat from the pan (or add
more if needed).
Add:
1 large onion,
finely chopped
1 medium carrot,
finely chopped
1 medium celery rib
with leaves, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves,
chopped
Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften,
about 5 minutes.
Add:
1 cup dry red wine
Bring to a boil, stirring to release the browned bits in
the bottom of the skillet. Pour into slow cooker.
Stir in:
One 28-ounce can
tomatoes, crushed, with juice
One 28-ounce can
crushed tomatoes in puree
1 ½ teaspoons dried
basil
1 ½ teaspoons dried
oregano
½ teaspoon crushed
red pepper flakes
Cover and turn the slow cooker to the low setting. Cook, without
opening the lid, until the meat is very tender, 6 to 7 hours.
Season to taste with: salt
and black pepper.
|
Crockpot BBQ chicken
On Sunday night we made crockpot BBQ chicken from this recipe I found on Pinterest.
It is ridiculously easy but we had a few disappointments.
We neglected to take the chicken our of the freezer very much in advance. So, it was still frozen when we woke up from sleeping in on Sunday. So, I had to spend like 2 hours thawing it in water. Needless to say, we went with the 4 hours on high method. Also, the way our day went (3 loads of laundry, deciding and applying for a new credit card for our wedding (to get miles for the honeymoon), cleaning the apartment), we were a little behind schedule by the time we wanted to go for a run. When we got back from the run, the four hours were up, so we put the crock pot on warm, took showers, and then made the sides.
Oh, the other thing was that ... our chicken said on the package "with giblets." (Even though the website/blog I got it from made a comment about aren't we all happy they don't give us that anymore? Well, false for us I guess). But, we couldn't find said giblets before cooking it. We figured that they were in a little package that when we made a turkey and we'd just take them out and toss them once we went to carve. Well, apparently with the chicken the giblets are just inside the bird and we didn't see them not in a packet?? Because when we went to cut open the bird there was all this mushy grey stuff. So, we had to try to scrape that off of the meat so it wouldn't infest the good stuff.
The chicken was good, but it was a little dry. We are still searching for our go-to whole chicken cooking method.
(We also bought a 2 liter of Coke Zero because we weren't going to drink a 12 pack of soda -- particularly not regular Coke).
It is ridiculously easy but we had a few disappointments.
We neglected to take the chicken our of the freezer very much in advance. So, it was still frozen when we woke up from sleeping in on Sunday. So, I had to spend like 2 hours thawing it in water. Needless to say, we went with the 4 hours on high method. Also, the way our day went (3 loads of laundry, deciding and applying for a new credit card for our wedding (to get miles for the honeymoon), cleaning the apartment), we were a little behind schedule by the time we wanted to go for a run. When we got back from the run, the four hours were up, so we put the crock pot on warm, took showers, and then made the sides.
Oh, the other thing was that ... our chicken said on the package "with giblets." (Even though the website/blog I got it from made a comment about aren't we all happy they don't give us that anymore? Well, false for us I guess). But, we couldn't find said giblets before cooking it. We figured that they were in a little package that when we made a turkey and we'd just take them out and toss them once we went to carve. Well, apparently with the chicken the giblets are just inside the bird and we didn't see them not in a packet?? Because when we went to cut open the bird there was all this mushy grey stuff. So, we had to try to scrape that off of the meat so it wouldn't infest the good stuff.
The chicken was good, but it was a little dry. We are still searching for our go-to whole chicken cooking method.
(We also bought a 2 liter of Coke Zero because we weren't going to drink a 12 pack of soda -- particularly not regular Coke).
|
Slow Cooker Coke
Chicken
Ingredients
1 fryer
1 lemon
1 onion
1 bottle BBQ sauce
1 can coca cola
Instructions
Peel onion and cut into quarters.
Cut lemon into quarters.
Place fryer in crock pot.
Toss in onion quarters and lemon quarters.
Pour in entire bottle of BBQ sauce and entire can of coke.
Cover and cook on low all day or high 3 to 4 hours.
|
Monday, September 3, 2012
Farewell for now, Lindsay!
My good friend and long-time roommate, Lindsay, is moving home to Minnesota next weekend. On Friday night, Rob and I went to Oshksoh to spend time with Lindsay before she ships out of Wisconsin! We went to dinner at Beckett's and then hit up some bars on Main Street to give Lindsay a proper Oshkosh send-off.
I met Lindsay our freshman year at Oshkosh in the dorms -- Taylor Hall. The fourth floor quiet floor. (I was under this impression before my freshman year that I needed to hit the books hard in college to be successful). We became roommates our sophomore year and lived together until Lindsay graduated. She has always been such a good friend to me -- steadfast and loyal. I'll miss her presence in Wisconsin, but know that Minnesota will be great to her. I know how important and good it is to be close to family. I wish her all the best!
I met Lindsay our freshman year at Oshkosh in the dorms -- Taylor Hall. The fourth floor quiet floor. (I was under this impression before my freshman year that I needed to hit the books hard in college to be successful). We became roommates our sophomore year and lived together until Lindsay graduated. She has always been such a good friend to me -- steadfast and loyal. I'll miss her presence in Wisconsin, but know that Minnesota will be great to her. I know how important and good it is to be close to family. I wish her all the best!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)