Year in Review and Going Forward

I've been enjoying blogging so far. The only thing I stress about is sticking to Tuesday and Thursday posting schedule. I started blogging to try to feel less isolated while living in Maine and I think the blog is serving this purpose in that regard.

Froyo makes everything better. Including Blog Posts.

I had been thinking about changing up my blogging schedule and maybe posting once a week, I really struggled in June to meet myself imposed posting schedule, but after my crazy busy June was over (I was only home one whole weekend that month) I realized that I didn't have too much trouble getting two posts ready to go each weekend.

Planning ahead for my second year of blogging: (1) More pictures! If I don't get a new camera for my birthday I'll just have to use my phone and (2) Shorter posts! I'll have more things scheduled to post for those times when I get super busy. I also think more pictures and shorter posts will make reading the blog a little more enjoyable. I'll still probably be too long and wordy sometimes, I didn't go to law school for nothing, but I'm going to try to break up long paragraphs with pictures and break down events into multiple posts.

And, I'm going to try to remember: Perfect is the Enemy of Good! If I keep honing a blog post until it's perfect or I keep waiting to post about something until I get the perfect pictures to go along with it, I'd never post anything. So, I've got to try to post what's good enough to post and not wait until my posts are prefect.

My 100th Post & 1st Blog Birthday

Technically this is post 109 but there are 9 previous posts that I'm not counting so it's the 100th Real Post! Also, a year ago tomorrow my first blog post went live so I'm also celebrating my one year blogiversary! I've decided to celebrate by sharing 100 random facts about myself (except I stopped at 40 because even I don't know that much about myself) interspersed with the some of the more awkward pictures of myself.

Me A Long Time Ago
At least I am Pretty sure it's me and not E2.

1. I am allergic to bananas. I've vomited and broken out in hives after eating them.
2. I like fried plantain. They don't give me hives
3. I got food poisoning from watermelon.
4. Food is my absolutely favorite thing in the world.
5. My best friend and I ate most of a whole one-pound box of sugar cubes once.
6. I am a germaphobe.
7. But I will totally eat food off the flood.
8. I’m never too full for ice cream.
9. I am a snob and prefer maple syrup to pancake syrup.
10. I love pancakes.

Halloween
I made my The Lion King, Hyena Costume myself.

11. I love doughnuts.
12. I’ve loved pickles and olives since I was a child.
13. I used to drink the brine black olives come in.
14. I still do so to gross out the Hubs.
15. I love listening to metal (like 80s Metallica, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath) because it is so epic.
16. I love 80s pop/dance music.
17. The first concert I went to was a Marc Anthony concert. (I convinced my dad to take me because he hoped it would improve my Spanish.)
18. I really want to start a gold charm bracelet.
19. While my sliver charm bracelet languishes in jewelry box.
20. I made up my own imaginary country with a language, history, and everything in Junior High.

Jr. High Class Photo
The face of someone who would learn
all about how to construct a language.

21. I took sailing lessons.
22. I miss Lake Michigan so much.
23. I am always too cold.
24. I would be so happy if it were 75 to 85 and slightly humid all the time.
25. I would miss the snow so much though. I love it even though I hate being cold.

5th (?) Grade Class Photo

26. I used to want to be a 1337 hax0r. Instead I became a lawyer.
27. I still wish I had tried harder to be an astronaut.
28. I am obsessed with chickens. When we travel some place with a lot of feral ones (like Hawaii or Key West) I take lots and lots of photos of them.
29. I have the best husband.
30. I have a diva cup. It is a life changer.

You didn't wear a pith helmet to your high school graduation party?

31. I hate it when I cut my fingernails too short.
32. I can’t stand long toenails so I cut them as short as possible.
33. I am so incredibly pedantic.
34. I think the law is like magic. You say some Harry Potter like Latin mumbo jumbo and abracadabra something about the world has changed.
35. I am continually amazed by how much my handwriting looks like E2’s.

I entered into a Beard Growing Contest in College.
Eyeliner is hard to get off when you smear it all over your face.

36. People have thought E2, E3, and I were triplets when we were young.
37. I am three years older than E2 and 5 1/2 years older than E3.
38. My wingspan, from fingertip to fingertip, is 6 feet.
39. I am 5’8” tall.
40. I wish I were shorter.

A series of facial expressions

All From My Recent Birthdays

The Best Chocolate Bars you can get for a $1!

Sesame Chicken with Broccoli

4 cups (or more) frozen broccoli florets

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed

1 tablespoon vegetable oil 

1 red pepper cut into thin 1ish inch stripes or diced

1 onion diced

1 clove garlic or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

3 tablespoons soy sauce

1 teaspoon sesame oil

2-3 tablespoons honey

Cook/defrost broccoli. Cook chicken in oil for about 5 minutes flipping halfway through. Add sesame oil, peppers and onions, cook a few minutes, add broccoli and remaining ingredients. Cook until the sauce thickens. Serve over rice.

This was so good that we've had it several times in the month since we discovered the recipe. I modified it a bit to make it easier and so I wouldn't have to buy things at the grocery store that I didn't think I'd be able to use in other recipes.

I found this recipe via the Advocare tumblr. I wanted to give the 24 Day Challenge a try so I wanted to try so more gluten free, sugar free (I guess honey doesn't count?), diary free recipes. I tried being gluten free for a month in law school to see if it would help my allergies and eczema, if I had a gluten allergy then that would make my other allergies and skin worse, the only think that happened was I lost weight because I couldn't way the free pizza at the law school or other stuff so now when I want to lose weight I go "gluten free" so I have a reason not to eat pizza or cookies. I don't mean to trivialize the concerns of people who have gluten allergies or have celiac disease and cannot eat gluten.

What I Keep in My Desk

Finally a post with a picture. I have one large draw at my desk. It's supposed to be for keeping files but it's too small for all my files so I use it for personal supplies instead. A happy eHa is a hardworking one. A hungry eHa is one who accidentally takes a nap at her desk or is too hungry to focus. So I stock supplies to keep me happy and to keep my tummy from rumbling.

For Food

I have Easy Mac and plastic utensils for when I forget my lunch (or just the utensils). I have raisins and peanuts in 4 oz canning jars for snacks. I fill em up and bring in a bunch am take them home one at a time. I also have Lara bars because those are the best.

I also have left over Advocare Spark! It's an energy drink powder and it works better than coffee or tea when I am really, tired. I have tea bags but no mugs to seep them in. (I am working on fixing that.) I have some Arnold Palmer instant drink things for when I want something sweet. I have bottle water for mixing the Spark and the Arnold Palmers in and for those days when I forget my water bottle. I also have a can of ginger ale and a drink coozie for if I have a stomachache (stress makes me sick to my stomach).

Other Body Needs
I wear contact lenses so have a spare pair of glasses and contact lens solution and a spare case. Once I scratched my cornea in high school and I had to drive home but I could only see out of one eye.

I take Allegra in the morning and before getting my allergy shots so I keep a small bottle of that at work in case I forget it in the morning or need to get my shots in the afternoon. I have tylenol for headaches. I also have lotion, hand sanitizer (not pictured because it's on top of my desk), petroleum jelly, and mouthwash.

I have spare pantyhose and RunFree to repair hose with small runs in them.

I also horde plastic grocery bags.

Other Things
I used to keep bandaids and antibiotic ointment in my desk draw but now I carry that with me in my purse. I also carry floss and toothpicks in my purse.

I also keep a fleece blanket rolled up on a spare chair that I wrap myself in when the air conditioning is too powerful or it's otherwise just too cold (everyday).

What do you find useful to keep with your at your desk?

Quick Tortellini Pasta Salad

Ingredients for 9 oz of pasta
Salad Dressing
1/3 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano leaves

Salad
1 9-oz refregerated cheese-filled tortellini
1 cup sliced carrots
1 1/2 cup frozen cut green beans
2 tablespoons diced onions

1. In a jar with a tight fitting lid, combine all dressing ingredients; shake well. Set aside.
2. Cook tortellini, carrots, and green beans as directed on tortellini package until tortellini is tender and vegetables are tender-crisp. I put the frozen beans in pot as the water heats up because I like most of my vegetables well cooked.
3. Drain; return to sauce pan. Cover with cold water and let stand 5 minutes or rinse with cold water until cool. Drain well.
4. Place tortellini, carrots, and green beans in medium bowl; add onions. Pour dressing over salad; toss gently to coat.

Since I can only find 12 oz containers of tortellini here are the measurements scaled for use with 12 oz of pasta . . .

Dressing
7 tablespoon + 1/3 teaspoon or 3.6 oz Olive Oil (about half a cup)
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 1/3 t lemon juice
2/3 t sugar
2/3 t salt
1/3 t garlic powder
1/3 t oregano

Salad
12-oz refregerated cheese-filled tortellini
1 1/3 cups sliced carrots
2 c. frozen green beans
2 T 2 t diced onions

Note:
1/8 t + 1/4 T = .375 and 1/3 ≈ .333
1/8 t + 1/2 t = .625, 3/4 t = .750, and 2/3 ≈ .667
Or you can buy odd size measuring spoons on amazon. I added some to my Christmas/Birthday wish list.