Sunday, July 15, 2012
Stuffed Bell Pepppers... A flop
When I was a kid my mom would make stuffed green bell peppers. The stuffing was made from a box of Spanish rice and hamburger. I can no longer eat the Spanish rice. But I attempted to make some this week and it just didn't turn out the same. I don't have pictures. I tried to use a little bit of cayenne pepper, ancho chili pepper and a few jalapenos to give it spice. It definitely needed more umpfh. I should probably go read a few different boxes to see what kind of spices they have in them, however, it was an attempt at making something that I miss.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Weekly Goals: Last week's progress and this week's goals
I accomplished some of the things on my list, not bad for the first week.
Last week's Goals:
Family/Friendship Goals:
Work Goals:
Education and Financial Goals:
6. Call and make an appointment with Career Services because I have no idea what I am going to do with my life after college.7. Look into AAA, so that I am not stranded when my older car breaks down. [I looked at if for about 5 minutes, I need to really look into it.]
Health and Fitness Goals:
8.
Cooking Goals:
10. Make 1 freezer meal. [This just didn't happen. Though I do have 2-3 I plan to make this week.]This Week's Goals:
Family/Friendship Goals:
2. Possibly do lunch with my friend B and her children on Friday at Chick-Fil-A's for the free food if you dress up like a cow.
Business Goals:
3. Work my currently scheduled shifts and accept any extra shifts I can. I am currently scheduled for 4 shifts.
4. Work for my parents Tuesday night and possibly Saturday.
Education and Financial Goals:
5. Call and make an appointment with Career Services because I have no idea what I am going to do with my life after college.6. Look into AAA, so that I am not stranded when my older car breaks down. I recently got something from the car repair shop that said something about roadside assistance so I think I will look into that as well.
Health and Fitness Goals:
7. Relax and rest after procedure on Wednesday,9. Run/Walk a total of 3 miles.
Cooking Goals:
10. Make 1-3 over-sized meals: Mexican rice, sausage & rice casserole, and paprika chicken stir-fry (which is totally a new experiment).
It Really Does Get Better
Though I started this blog, to share the recipes that I am tweaking. I also would like to use this blog to share the life lessons I have learned.
As a teenager, I had a difficult time finding my place in the world. I struggled with the loss of dear friendships, a strained relationship with siblings, a tense relationship with my parents, and an overwhelming confusion about my identity.
While complaining one day that "it was never going to get better." A wise friend informed me that it would get better and that I just had to be patient. When I started college and things were still difficult, I went back to that friend and accusingly said "It still isn't better." Somethings were actually worse. She again replied that I had to be patient and that things would improve.
In the four years since I graduated from High School, I have learned that things really do get better. Situations in life resemble a rollercoaster in many aspects not only the steep inclines but also the times when things are steady. I have experienced many ups and downs. In my down moments I now know the track of life will once again have a positive moment. In my moments of despair, I have learned some coping tools:
1. Prayer
By first praying to God, it has helped to give me peace. I am really concerned with my upcoming biopsy. But every time I begin to worry I remind myself that I am not alone. When all of this first start in April of 2011, I wasn't well informed and I was terrified. As I was begging God to be alright, the words "Up from the grave he Arose" popped into my head and my tears stopped. I immediately brought the song up on my computer and sang it over and over again. If God can conquer death, surely he can conquer whatever problems are present in my life, right?
2. Praise God
To some this may seem odd. That I would praise God in my moments of despair. In James 1:2-4 the Bible talks about finding joy in our trials. Though I may not always understand why I am going through hard times I am becoming quicker to the realization that God has a reason for testing me. If Job can lose everything and still praise God, shouldn't I also be able to praise God in my dark places? (Not that any of my losses have ever been as great as Job's but how he handled his losses are a great example of how to handle our own losses.)
One of my favorite songs to sing is "Praise you in this storm" by Casting Crowns in moments when I need to remind myself that ultimately God is in control.
3. Encouraging myself.
This is where I think of all of the things that have gotten better in the last few years and I remind myself that if things that seemed hopeless have improved then surely whatever situation I am in will get better as well.
As a teenager, I had a difficult time finding my place in the world. I struggled with the loss of dear friendships, a strained relationship with siblings, a tense relationship with my parents, and an overwhelming confusion about my identity.
While complaining one day that "it was never going to get better." A wise friend informed me that it would get better and that I just had to be patient. When I started college and things were still difficult, I went back to that friend and accusingly said "It still isn't better." Somethings were actually worse. She again replied that I had to be patient and that things would improve.
In the four years since I graduated from High School, I have learned that things really do get better. Situations in life resemble a rollercoaster in many aspects not only the steep inclines but also the times when things are steady. I have experienced many ups and downs. In my down moments I now know the track of life will once again have a positive moment. In my moments of despair, I have learned some coping tools:
1. Prayer
By first praying to God, it has helped to give me peace. I am really concerned with my upcoming biopsy. But every time I begin to worry I remind myself that I am not alone. When all of this first start in April of 2011, I wasn't well informed and I was terrified. As I was begging God to be alright, the words "Up from the grave he Arose" popped into my head and my tears stopped. I immediately brought the song up on my computer and sang it over and over again. If God can conquer death, surely he can conquer whatever problems are present in my life, right?
2. Praise God
To some this may seem odd. That I would praise God in my moments of despair. In James 1:2-4 the Bible talks about finding joy in our trials. Though I may not always understand why I am going through hard times I am becoming quicker to the realization that God has a reason for testing me. If Job can lose everything and still praise God, shouldn't I also be able to praise God in my dark places? (Not that any of my losses have ever been as great as Job's but how he handled his losses are a great example of how to handle our own losses.)
One of my favorite songs to sing is "Praise you in this storm" by Casting Crowns in moments when I need to remind myself that ultimately God is in control.
3. Encouraging myself.
This is where I think of all of the things that have gotten better in the last few years and I remind myself that if things that seemed hopeless have improved then surely whatever situation I am in will get better as well.
Thankful for what I have
As I was reading one of my favorite blogs, I clicked on a link to a blog written by a woman who lives in a 8 by 32 trailer with her husband and toddler. I have been feeling very sad lately that my kitchen is so small and it makes cooking a challenge. But after reading her blog, I was reminded of how much space I have. It may not be my dream kitchen but at least my stove is a standard size stove and room for a dining room table that I can use as a counter top.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Holiday Get Togethers
Last night, to celebrate Independence day I went to a pot luck dinner with my extended family. The table was loaded with pasta salads, cole slaw, zucchini casserole, dips and chips, and baked beans. There was so much food and it all looked and smelled good, however, it reminded me of what I miss. This has inspired me even more to work on recipes that resemble foods I can no longer eat without getting sick.
Now, the question I am asking myself is where to start?
Now, the question I am asking myself is where to start?
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Weekly Goals: What I hope to Accomplish this week 7/2-7/8
This is my first post about weekly goals therefore I have do not have any goals to say whether I have accomplished them or not. But next week I will update on my progress
2. Spend Wednesday evening celebrating Independence day at my grandparent's house.
Work Goals:
3. Work my currently scheduled shifts and accept any extra shifts I can. I am currently scheduled for 4 shifts.
4. Make sure that my schedule has the shift change for my medical procedure next week.
5. Work for my parents.
7. Look into AAA, so that I am not stranded when my older car breaks down.
9. Eat at least one fresh fruit or vegetable.
Hopefully, I am successful in my first week.
Family/Friendship Goals:
1. Spend Wednesday helping my sister with her little ones.2. Spend Wednesday evening celebrating Independence day at my grandparent's house.
Work Goals:
3. Work my currently scheduled shifts and accept any extra shifts I can. I am currently scheduled for 4 shifts.
4. Make sure that my schedule has the shift change for my medical procedure next week.
5. Work for my parents.
Education and Financial Goals:
6. Call and make an appointment with Career Services because I have no idea what I am going to do with my life after college.7. Look into AAA, so that I am not stranded when my older car breaks down.
Health and Fitness Goals:
8. Run/walk a total of 10 miles.9. Eat at least one fresh fruit or vegetable.
Cooking Goals:
10. Make 1 freezer meal.Hopefully, I am successful in my first week.
Joining the Blog World & My journey to this point
I have finally discovered something worth writing a blog over. My garlic- and onion-free adventures. Last year, I was sick all the time. When I talked to my cousin who has suffered from a garlic and onion allergy for years she suggested that because allergies usually run in families that I may be suffering from it as well. She encouraged me to go a week without any product that has garlic or onions in it. At the time I lived off of pre-made foods, frozen dinners, and junk food. Since garlic and onions are not as common of an allergy as dairy products or peanuts, companies can get away with hiding them under the word SPICES. If my cousin had not helped me sort through my pantry I would have continued to unknowingly have eaten onions and garlic and this test would have been proven useless.
After a week, I felt amazing! No more feeling sick as soon as I had eaten. No more burning my lips on pickles (my grandmother's homemade pickles are drowning in garlic). No more walking around bent over because my stomach hurt. Ten days into my garlic & onion free life I ate stir-fry and boy was that a mistake. I thought maybe I had just had a stomach bug that lasted a really, really long time and that was why my sudden diet change has solved everything. After enjoying the stir-fry smothered in teriyaki sauce, I was sick. That was the sign I needed that it wasn't just a virus. I was low tolerance to onions and garlic like my little brother and my cousin. I am also low tolerance to cow's milk.
The last year has been a major adjustment. For the most part, I have become better at not eating things I that make me sick. There are many things I miss though, like ketchup, BBQ sauce, salad dressing, potato chips that aren't plain, and salsa are just a few. So I will be attempting to make alternatives and show you the progress as I go.
This blog will also include freebies that I have found, a weekly goals list, my cooking adventures, menu, general thoughts on life and my running/fitness updates.
After a week, I felt amazing! No more feeling sick as soon as I had eaten. No more burning my lips on pickles (my grandmother's homemade pickles are drowning in garlic). No more walking around bent over because my stomach hurt. Ten days into my garlic & onion free life I ate stir-fry and boy was that a mistake. I thought maybe I had just had a stomach bug that lasted a really, really long time and that was why my sudden diet change has solved everything. After enjoying the stir-fry smothered in teriyaki sauce, I was sick. That was the sign I needed that it wasn't just a virus. I was low tolerance to onions and garlic like my little brother and my cousin. I am also low tolerance to cow's milk.
The last year has been a major adjustment. For the most part, I have become better at not eating things I that make me sick. There are many things I miss though, like ketchup, BBQ sauce, salad dressing, potato chips that aren't plain, and salsa are just a few. So I will be attempting to make alternatives and show you the progress as I go.
This blog will also include freebies that I have found, a weekly goals list, my cooking adventures, menu, general thoughts on life and my running/fitness updates.
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