Blogg-"er"

So here's the deal. It seems I'm really at a loss for words these days. It's now been almost a month since I last blogged. Not sure why, but I just haven't been inspired. Maybe when we get word on the house, or when I finally have some new material for my book*, I'll feel more up for it. For now, I just await my inspiration.

*For any of you that have been reading me for quite some time, you may remember that about a year or a year and a half ago, my computer crashed- taking with it several chapters of a book I was writing. Recently while cleaning up and packing, I found some pieces of it, including the table of contents and the introduction. So all is not lost and I maybe writing again soon!

Today's Top 10

Ever seen the movie Like Water for Chocolate? I absolutely love that movie. While I was standing in the kitchen today, baking a cake for absoutely no reason other than I wanted to, I thought of that movie. Obviously my life is nothing like that movie, but just the therapeutic value of cooking for me made me think of it.

Anyway as I was saying, I decided to bake a cake today. Not the add eggs and oil kind of cake (as if!), but a real from-scratch, mix all the ingredients yourself cake. My son walks in the kitchen and says, "Why are you cooking dinner so early, Mommy?" To which I replied, "I'm not making dinner; I'm making a cake." Of course his next question was why? and my answer was just because. I continued to measure and mix ingredients with my son who insisted he "wash up and come and help." It seems more and more that I really find enjoyment, comfort, and satisfaction from baking and cooking. I really always have, but it's becoming more and more obvious to me. Lately, I don't even care about eating it, just making it. I think I'm starting to figure out why...

First. It's just plain fun in my opinion. Trying new recipes, changing recipes and making your own creations. Seeing if you can re-create something that you've had and loved in a restaurant. I can't help it- food is fun!

Second. Who doesn't like eating. Nuff said.

Third. I really like gifting food to other people. Nothing hits a heart warmer than something from your kitchen that you made from scratch. It's extremely personal.

Fourth. I think there's something to be said for the whole "project" aspect of cooking. You start with a whole bunch of supplies, you work through a project, and at the end (hopefully) you have a beautiful product.

Fifth. Ego. I love to hear people tell me how good my food is! I can't help it. I'm shameless. Nothing sounds better to me than, "Mommy, this is the best _____ I've ever had!" or "Honey, this is one for the regular rotation." Which is what my husband says when I try a new recipe he really, really likes! Last few things he said that to were Chicken with Balsamic Glaze, Herbed Chicken Parmesean, and Sugared Sirloin (not original recipes...but done with my own flair).

Sixth. I always feel a sense of accomplishment when I don't know what we're going to eat for dinner, I jump in the kitchen and dig around, and using what we have in the house, come up with a dinner just as yummy as a planned one.

Seventh. It gives me fun and bonding time with my son who loves to help in the kitchen. He's become quite creative too! He made his own original recipe last week that he called Dessert Pizza. It was a baked pizza crust with chocolate, coconut, and sprinkles on it!

Eighth. It reminds me of my childhood and people in my life that are very meaningful to me...my mom and my grandma. My grandma taught me a lot of the cooking that I know now- particulary some of the classic recipes. She definitely taught me to express my love for people with good eats (as Alton Brown would call them). My mom always had dinner on the table when we were kids. Until my parents got divorced, we all sat at the table and ate dinner together every night. She too has taught me about the power of sharing through food. Now, in recent years, my sister and I have come to enjoy cooking together as well- even if we don't get to do it often, mostly holidays.

Ninth. Sports and food go great together. Sometimes chips and dip just don't do it. It's much more fun to cook up layered nachos or BBQ. One of my life mottos: Nothing goes together like Food, Family, and Football!

Tenth. I can cook alone or with others. I have to admit it though, I'd rather be alone when I'm in the kitchen. I like the freedom to move, to create, to be silent, and to do things on my own. This is when I find cooking to be particulary therapeutic...when I'm cooking by myself.

Cake's ready...gotta go!

Welcome Home NWG!

This is the day my lucky ass sister is returning to the states from what I'm sure has been an amazing trip to Hong Kong! I can't wait to hear all about it and see the pictures!

You know, it's funny. I know sometimes my sister thinks I'm lucky, having met my soulmate in high school thereby getting to skip the whole dating scene, getting married and having an amaaaaaaazing kid. But let me just tell you how lucky you are NWG! Imagine the cost of your trip times three. I'm so happy for you and a bit jealous that you've had this amazing experience, as well as other travelling adventures. You know how people always say travel now cuz once you get married and have kids...? Well, I always thought that was nonsense. My husband and I love to travel and we have a great kid who is easily and agreeably portable. But the reason people say that is the cost!

Anything you want to do is times three. Three airfares, three sets of three meals a day, three tickets to anything you want to do, etc. Who can afford to do all of that? Hopefully down the line, when the savings that is now being spent on the house, has begun to build back up, we'll be able to take Punky on some fantastic voyages. For now...we're a road trippin' kinda family!

Anyway, welcome home NWG...you lucky duck!

The Final Countdown...

Looks like we'll not only be in the new house for Labor Day, but quite possibly before Punky starts school! The realtor emailed us today that it looks like the house will be ready in less than 30 days. I can hardly wait...we're going out to see it this weekend. I'll post pictures then.

Back to Reality

Ho hum...after two nice leisurely weeks among the unemployed, it's back to work Monday. As excited as I am for my new job and all the new experiences that come with it, I'm not too excited about getting back to the schedule. I left my last job because it was consuming me (much like that flesh-eating disease that surfaced a few years back). I'm hoping that this one will be different. The only draw back is that I'm going to have an hour and half commute until I move in August, and even still, I'll be lucky to have under an hour after the move. At the time I accepted the job, it seemed a sacrafice I was willing to make. Afterall, the environment and the responsibilities of the job seem to be exactly what I'm looking for. But truth be told: I'd like to get pregnant again sometime within the next year, work until I have the baby, and then maybe quit. My thought being that my husband's business will hopefully be lucrative enough that I can work for myself-on my own schedule, and be a mom. I was lucky enough to be able to stay home for a year when Punky was born. Next time I'd like to do the same and maybe get started on something on my own. Right now though, we're too dependent on the stability of my salary and benefits. But who knows? A year from now this may not be the case. Here's to hoping!

A cookie lookie for "Cookie Lookie"

Sometimes kids are more courageous- and a lot less lazy- than adults. I love to cook. Those that know me or have read my past blogs know this. I particularly love baking and confections. But last week when my son insisted we make chocolate covered marshmallow cookies, I sighed at the thought of how involved a process it would be. But he nagged and whined, and it's summer; so quite frankly it worked. Everything you see below was done from scratch. We even made our own marshmallow (a culinary first for me)! They taste a lot like pinwheels or mallomars you would buy in the store. I'm glad Punky was so insistant, because we learned new technique, tested our patience (they took 2 days to make), and had a blast playing in the kitchen together. Not to mention, they were worth it. Just ask my Dad!

My sister was really jealous that Dad got to taste them, so I figured I'd really upset her and show her what she missed!



Here's a close up...it's a little blurry but you get the idea.

The Principal Has Left the Building

For the first time in a year and a half, I will wake tomorrow and not go to school! No, not because school's out for summer (even though it is), but because as many of you know I resigned from my job. I promised to stay until the end of the school year, and I did. But now it's over. It's a strange feeling. I still find myslef thinking about the school all of the time: calling a parent this week, the weekly reports that have to be done, will they take care of this will they take care of that if I'm not there. I still feel like it's my responsibility. But it's not. This total consumption is one of the reasons I decided to leave in the first place.

So while I have secured a new job, my start date has not been finalized yet. So right now, I try to teach myself to enjoy time off. It's not easy you know. I have a type A personality and I am very career oriented. But for a few weeks I'm going to focus on two things only...being a mom and finalizing everything with the house. It will be nice. Maybe that's more my fear- that I'll love being home so much that I'll never want to go back to work again! With Punky in school and a brain like mine (always spinning), I doubt it. Although if we had financial freedom, I could work where how and whenever I want. But that's a topic for another time...

For now, I'm going to work very hard to let go of the school and try to have faith that they will figure it all out without me. In the meantime, I'll enjoy being an at-home mom, even if it's only temporary.