What's new in our house?

The past month has been kind of crazy.  The same day I posted about my review, I had a job interview. It went really well, but I didn't get the job. I know God has an amazing plan for me, so I am okay with it.  They were very kind when they told me they offered the position to another candidate.  They also didn't have any feedback, darn it!  Sometimes it is nice to get some helpful feedback. Oh well, I'm just happy there were so kind to me. About the same time as that was going on, J and I decided to put a contract in to build a brand new house about 20 miles from our current home.  I had also scheduled a doctor's appointment with a dermatologist to check a small spot on my back. Additionally, my allergy medication had stopped working again to treat my allergies to our cats.  Finally, I was anxiously awaiting the birth of my friend T's baby. 
A week after putting a contract in to buy a brand new house, we pulled our contract.  Our new home purchase was contingent on meeting with our real estate agent.  The reality of the situation was that we would lose a LARGE chunk of money selling our current home.  Neither of us were willing to make that sacrifice, so we backed out.  I can't explain why, but this was one of the most peaceful decisions I have ever made. I am just very at peace with our decision.  In my gut, I feel like we made the right choice.  What's kind of odd, is everyone seems more disappointed than we are.
The very same day, a friend posted on Facebook that she was going to take her little girl to the pound to adopt a cat.  With a heavy heart, I sent her a message and told her we needed to re-home our cats.  I hadn't said much to anyone about it, because it was such a painful decision.  I didn't know if everyone would understand what it was like to already have asthma, but not be able to breathe on top of it, even with medication.  I had to make a decision to put my health first.  After some conversation, our friend took both of the cats and they are in the process of adjusting.  Please pray they continue to adjust and love their new home.  They are in a huge house with a family who has kids home all day long to play with them.  They will be well loved and taken care of.  We did say if for some reason things didn't work out, that we wanted to be the first to know.  What has been amazing is that I have started sleeping again. I can breathe again. I feel so much better and it has only been a couple of weeks!
My friend T had her sweet baby boy on April 10. I haven't gotten to meet him yet, but am working with my crazy schedule to make some plans to go meet the new little family member. He is absolutely adorable!!! Momma and baby are doing good.  He already has my heart and I haven't met him yet.  I love being an auntie...it's the best job in the whole world! Seriously...best job ever!
This past week I saw the dermatologist for the spot on my back. She did not like what she saw, so removed it that day.  I have stitches and a bandage that can't get wet for two weeks. Pretty tricky to wash your medium length hair when you don't have a hand held shower nozzle. The best part of the story is, I don't have skin cancer! Woohoo!! She said it was atypical, but not malignant. Now I just get to heal and be happy!
Since we decided to not purchase a new home, we had a small amount of money to decide what we wanted to do with.  We decided to remodel our basement and stairwell! Remodeling has commenced...I will post more on that project later. It's quite fabulous though!
I flew to Las Vegas for the first time in my life for a conference for work. I got to work on training and even got to give a speech, LOVED every minute of it.  Plus, it was my very first trip to Vegas. Interesting city. Nice place to visit, but just for a couple days. 
This morning I knocked one of my four events out of the way! Another great accomplishment.
Oh, one more thing about April...I hit my 25 pound mark at Weight Watchers and earned a Weight Washer.  Say it out loud, it's funnier.  I feel like for the first time in my life the changes I am making are really sticking.  I just live life with Weight Watchers.  I actually don't feel like I do anything very differently from most Americans, I am just aware of what I am putting in to my mouth and the portion sizes.  My next hurdle will be to add in physical activity and just make it a part of my daily routine. Not there yet, but it's coming...I'm sure it is! 
How is that for a whirlwind update of April? Tomorrow is my first full day off of work in 20 days straight. Oddly enough, I am actually enjoying my job in small amounts again...that's refreshing. Okay, I will post again very soon with remodel photos...prepare to be amazed!

R-E-S-P-E-C-T...

Usually, I think I handle feedback pretty well.  I usually listen when I get feedback, think about how I could improve my skill set, and spring into action.  I am always willing to learn, in fact, I enjoy learning.  Out of my desire to please everyone...I am always willing to work on me.  Well, maybe I should not say always.  I had my mid-year review this week at work.  I was prepared to get feedback on things like how I focus on relationships more than income.  I'm a relationship driven person, but I work in a field where numbers make or break you.  While great relationships should in theory yield high numbers, I end up falling short of making my income goals, but people usually have really good relationships with me.
I was prepped for the same old feedback.  I have worked really hard this year at being more numbers driven and balancing my relationships with people.  The result? I'm working more hours than ever before and am more short on my income goal than ever before.  At least I can document all of my steps to raise money.  So, what was the feedback they gave me on this review? That I'm too respectful.  My respect for others gets in the way meeting objectives such as income.  (Please, please, do not take this as a bash on the organization. I am certain this is not an organizational statement, but rather feedback from one specific person who happens to be my supervisor.)
When I was given the feedback, I just listened.  Then I said that was very challenging because I believe, at my core, believe you win more bees with honey.  I believe in the power of treating one another the way you want to be treated or better. I believe in the power of people and relationships.  I believe in giving every single person who wants to volunteer a chance at it.  There is a way for every single person in our community to help if they so desire.  Apparently, this is not a shared value.  I was also criticized for having people on my committee who aren't important enough.  This really rubs me the wrong way.  If the people I am working with are not important enough, what am I?
This feedback all kind of makes my head spin, my heart hurt, and makes me realize I have to find a new job.  I interviewed this week. It felt like it went well, but time will only tell.  I know that interviews are just as much about finding a good fit personality wise as it is about skill sets, etc.  I'm just ready to check out of work, do my exit interview (the information above is all signed by my supervisor, so will be easy to point out verbatim when I leave), and thrive in a new environment.  I'm ready for change.  Ready for a place where being respectful is, well, respected.

Honey Do Jewelry Organizer

For months I have wanted to find a way to organize my jewelry. I have looked at gobs and gobs of ideas.  Finally, one weekend my sweet hubby and I stopped at Home Depot to purchase a towel bar and pick up some shower hooks to hang my necklaces from.  Right when we walked in, we saw the cutest little bistro mirror that had three sets of hooks on it.  We decided right then and there, that would be a great option! We could choose between a mirror or photo frames, we went with the frame option.  We also went to the hardware section and found some hooks to match the three that were already attached.  We brought our purchases home and I didn't think much about it.

I was delighted when I returned home from a business trip to Seattle to find J had added my additional hooks and mounted the bistro collage on the wall.  All I had to do was print my photos and start hanging my necklaces! I still have more to hang, but here is what we have so far.  I think it turned out really nice.  I was also surprised to realize the top of the wall hanging was a small shelf, perfect for my bottles of perfume!

While we were printing photos, we decided to use one of the collages we had in our storage room.  I wanted to display some of the professional pictures we had taken over the summer.  We needed 4 horizontal and 4 vertical photos, but I was having a hard time finding exactly what I wanted.  I had seen an idea to create a wall hanging out of the words to the song you danced to at your wedding.  I decided to do one vertical photo and one horizontal photo with words.  I chose our song and our vows for the words to hang up.  I think it turned out kind of cute!  Now we just have to get it hung up above the buffet.

About time...

Sometimes, I get so caught up in work and life that I forget to take care of me.  I know the mantra...if you love yourself you can love others better.  It's not that I don't love me, it's just that I seriously need to write myself notes to remember to do things...like cut my hair. Anyway, I had been wanting to cut my hair for weeks.  I also needed to get my eyebrows waxed.  In my free time off of work I have been going to the dentist.  I had a root canal that went bad (I didn't even know that happened) and resulted in an infection. I almost cancelled my original appointment with my dentist because the pain went away, thanks for all the love and support to tell me that meant I REALLY need to get my rear to the dentist.  I had been exhausted for weeks and running low grade fevers, I just thought I was worn out.

Anyway, this morning I went in for an extraction.  I think as an adult the tooth fairy should leave you like 10 times the amount of normal, because the dentist REALLY had to yank and pull to remove the tooth.  The tooth root broke, but the procedure went well.  It just took a few hours.  They started prepping my mouth for a bridge, that will happen in 3 weeks once I'm healed up a little more.  I slept all afternoon, which my body probably needed.  When I woke up, I worked for about an hour before J came home from work. 

We went to get our hair cut, only to find out the wait time was over an hour.  (I know, I know, most women actually make appointments, but I just go to Cost Cutters. I'm pretty relaxed about my hair.)  We wrote our names down on the list and went to a new BBQ place for dinner.  We came back to a short wait and it was time to get down to business.  I was so glad we took a before and after picture, because I had no idea how badly I needed a trim! I kind of look like a 13 year old skater boy in the before picture. Which is youthful, but not super professional.  I also got a different cut than normal. I didn't do the layers as usual, I was really happy with how it turned out.  It feels good too.

Now if my lost tooth and hair cut amounted to anything on the scale, we'd be in business.  I suppose my confidence and feeling better when that infection is gone will all help this week though. Anyway, thought you might enjoy the picture.

Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

As mentioned previously, I have a strange addiction to Pinterest. I am always pinning recipes to try.  I have tried a number, but occasionally, I will pin one, then go to look at the ingredients and think they are insane.  Such was the case with this sandwich recipe I pinned.  I got to thinking about it and decided I could easily make my very own recipe.  So this was inspired by Pinterest, but really has very few of the ingredients, if any, that were in the recipe I saw. Here is my very own recipe for 2 servings of Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwiches:

1-5oz. Can of Chicken
1 Tbsp. Light Mayonnaise
1 Tbsp. Vinegar
2 Tbsp. Frank's Red Hot Sauce
5 Sprays of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter
2 Deli Thin Slices of Cheddar Cheese
2 Tbsp. Reduced Fat Blue Cheese Dressing, I used Wish Bone.
4 Slices Sara Lee Delightful Bread

Preheat George Foreman grill or a lightly greased pan or a griddle. Toast bread on medium setting in toaster.  In small bowl mix canned chicken, mayonnaise, vinegar, hot sauce, butter spray until well mixed.  Spread mixture on toasted bread.  Spread 1 Tbsp. of blue cheese dressing on top of each partially made sandwich. Top with a slice of cheddar cheese. Top each sandwich with remaining piece of bread.  Place sandwich in grill or onto pan or griddle.  Cook for just a minute or so and flip to continue cooking until cheese is starting to melt. Slice each sandwich in half and enjoy!

We served ours with no sugar added applesauce, which was delicious!  The sweet apple sauce made up for the kind of spicy sandwich.  If you keep track of your Weight Watchers Points, this sandwich is 6 points.  You could even get creative and add some chopped up celery, which would be delicious! Also, the hubby doesn't love blue cheese, so we left that out on his sandwich. He just had some ranch on the side. We both enjoyed the sandwich so much, hope you do too!

The Confessional

A couple random thoughts of the season...
1.) I think I'm addicted to Pinterest. Why would I think that? Well, I was in church on Sunday. We were sharing the peace and one of my Pinterest friends said she was having a hard time keeping up with me, I giggled and said we'd have to catch up after the service. I turned to shake hands with another church go-er and instead of saying, "Peace be with you..." I said, "pinterest..." I'm sure I turned like 6 shades of red. Perhaps I should pin more about God? Or...I could just focus on being at church! Sheesh, lol.

2.) I drive by this one house on my way to and from work.  I've been worried because I can't see baby Jesus in their nativity. I have been worried that maybe someone stole baby Jesus. Seriously...where could be baby Jesus be?  It occurred to me tonight that maybe everyone, Mary, the wisemen, etc. are WAITING for Jesus to come...as in Advent. Duh...I bet they put Jesus out on Christmas eve or Christmas day. It was like a riddle in their front yard. I get it now.

3.) I was listening to that song, "A Baby Changes Everything"...I was thinking, how did Mary know when she was pregnant? Sure, she'd have the normal symptoms, but how would she know how far along she was in her pregnancy? Like was the moment she saw the angel the start of 9 months?  What was her pregnancy like? Low and behold the gospel in church on Sunday said something to the effect to when Mary would be pregnant.  Hmm...all very thought provoking.  Also, I wonder if she wanted to have more babies or if she was content knowing she carried the Lord, Our Savior, to term?

Okay, those are my meandering thoughts of the day.  Some comical, but the Mary thing is perplexing to me.  I like to wonder what it'd be like to interview Mary. Anyway, hope you are enjoying the holidays!

*image from: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2011/12/marys-pregnancy-test/

Tupperware Bonanza

I had a Tupperware party before we went to Hawaii.  It was by far the easiest party I have ever toasted, I only provided a few ingredients, and the rewards were amazing!  If you want Tupperware, you should really consider hosting a party to get it.  Products with a lifetime guarantee aren't always inexpensive, but my party made everything super affordable.  I was able to get lots of credit, half off items, free items, etc.  I paid very little and now my pantry is ready to go. It was just like Christmas morning opening up my giant box of hostess items.  Here is what I got...which doesn't include the gift I got for booking a party or the hostess rewards I didn't take like another half price item or another item that was offered...still this is so much fabulous Tupperware:

A couple of these items have some really cool features...

This is the spaghetti keeper.  I am terrible, really, at measuring out spaghetti.  So, I was so happy with the little measuring feature. Woohoo!

This is the microwaveable lunch dish I bought.  It has a special lid that you can vent when you microwave.  What I also loved was the cold cup! It slips inside the left divided area and can come out before you microwave, how cool is that? I got one as a thank you gift with my party and ordered a second one, because I loved it!

This little container actually holds 2 oz.  I'm so excited to use it for taking dressing, mayo, cream cheese, etc. to work.  Also a perfect size for a small serving of peanuts. 

This is a 4 oz. container which came with the freezer set I bought (see the cute snowflake?), but I got some extras for snacks...like making my own lunchables! I'm happy I can save money on using plastic baggies and stop losing money buying cheap stuff at the store that doesn't last.

This is the lid to one of my microwave n serve containers.  I like the instructions on the back...and the valve.  You don't do anything, other than put the container in the microwave and it does all the venting!

So, with my new kitchen additions, I had to use them.  I decided to make a recipe.  I vaguely recalled that you could take a cake mix and mix it with a can of pumpkin.  I was guessing I could bake the cake in the microwave just the same.  At my party, we made a chocolate cake in the microwave, so I had a general idea of how long to bake it.  I mixed one yellow cake mix with one 15 oz. can of pumpkin.  Then I added 1/4 cup of mini chocolate morsels.  I sprayed the inside of my 6 1/2 cup microwave n serve with cooking spray. Then spooned in my batter.  I microwaved for 9 minutes (in our ancient microwave) and voila...cake!

I had some caramel topping in the fridge, so I decided to pour 3 tsps on top, kind of like a glaze.

I sliced our cake into 14 pieces and served up a piece with a little dollop of whipped cream.  Delicious!!