So, I made this recipe today and need a name for it... Here it is:
crust: (breadmaker directions--if you know how to make it homemade you're way beyond my skill level and can figure it out)
1 1/4 cup white flour
1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup flax seed
1 1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons oil
2 1/4 teaspoons yeast
throw it all in the breadmaker on dough and sit tight while it makes itself
filling:
1 pound ground beef
1/2 onion
1 cup bell peppers (I get the frozen assortment that has green, red, yellow and orange... already chopped up!)
1 jalapeno
1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves
1 teaspoon tumeric
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
3 cups mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon butter
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Chop veggies and parsley and cook on top of stove with ground beef until almost finished. Be sure not to overcook as there will be plenty of cooking time once it's in the oven.
Once dough is cooked, separate it into 2 even-sized chunks and roll them each out separately to be a rectangle. Lay the first one on the bottom of a greased 9x14 pan. Scoop veggie mix in the middle and spread out evenly--making sure to leave a border for the top crust to attach to the bottom. Spread cheese over veggie mix. (I know it's alot but that makes it SOOOO good!) Place top dough piece on mixture and press the edges of both doughs together as you would a pie. Cut butter into 4 small slices and place on top of crust. (would also be good with egg white on top BUT I'm out... sorry)
Cook at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until done. Take small bites and savor each one as there are too many calories to not appreciate it. ;)
Let me know if you can think of a name!
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Friday, December 22, 2006
picture from my birthday
Mike and I had this done on my birthday and I finally brought it into photoshop to make changes. They original was very dark "Russian" looking Mike says and I like this better. Not positive about the colors but they make me smile.
Monday, December 04, 2006
COLD
Burrrrrr
11 degrees this morning on my way to work and it's not supposed to heat up too much at all today. Winter in Chicago, it's a beautiful thing.
My condo isn't as unbearably hot as it was last year so that's nice. I think it's because there are people below us now to control the heat... and we left in the window unit so that lets in plenty of cold air.
Fuuuuun stuff.
11 degrees this morning on my way to work and it's not supposed to heat up too much at all today. Winter in Chicago, it's a beautiful thing.
My condo isn't as unbearably hot as it was last year so that's nice. I think it's because there are people below us now to control the heat... and we left in the window unit so that lets in plenty of cold air.
Fuuuuun stuff.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Another Christmas Present
Not too clear but here is the golf club cove for my dad. It's very strechy because I seem to underestimate the size of them. Not this time!! Here it is!
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Berry Pie
Here is a recipe that I just made up. Okay, not totally from my head but from different recipes and advice. Thought I'd post it but I will have to wait 20 more minutes to taste the final product.
Filling:
3 cups fresh organic raspberries
2 cups fresh organic cranberries
3 T white flour
1/2 C sugar
1/8 t salt
1 T lime juice
1 T butter (the real stuff, no margarine for me!)
In a large Ziploc bag, mix flour, sugar and salt. Add fruit and lemon juice. Zip closed and shake until fruit is covered. Set aside.
Crust:
1 1/4 C whole wheat flour
1 C white flour (unbleached)
3/4 t salt
2/3 C coconut oil
about 7 T water
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
In a large bowl, mix flours and salt thoroughly. Add coconut oil and use a pastry blender to cut the shortening until the pieces are very small. Sprinkle 1 T at a time over mixture; gently toss with a fork and then move the moisturized dough to one side of the bowl. Do this until all of the dough mixture is moistened.
Use your hands to form dough into two even balls and place in refrigerator.
Sprinkle alittle whole wheat flour on the table and begin to roll out the dough into a circle. Make sure that the dough will fit the bottom and sides on pan. Place it into the pan and cut the edges around the outside; mix leftover dough with 2nd dough ball and repeat.
After the second dough ball has been rolled out, pour the fruit from the Ziploc bag into the bottom pie crust. Place the butter on top of the fruit and cover with the top crust. Cut away the extras and fold sides under, being sure to pinch the upper and lower crust together so that the fruit mixture doesn't leak. Cut a design in the top to allow airflow and throw it into the oven!
Cook pie at 425 degrees for 10 minutes and then lower the temperature to 350 degrees and continue cooking for 30-40 minutes.
Now, what should you do with the extra dough? My favorite thing is to make mini cinnamon rolls! Melt 1 t cinnamon, 1 t sugar and 2 t butter in the microwave for 15 seconds. Roll out extra dough in a rectangle and then spread sugar mixture all the way to the sides. Roll up and cut into small pieces. (usually makes 5-6) Put into the oven for 10-12 minutes (with the pie of course) and you have a great snack while waiting for your pie to finish cooking!
Note: the pie smells somewhat like coconut but the taste is minimal. I use coconut oil rather than shortening for many reasons:
Filling:
3 cups fresh organic raspberries
2 cups fresh organic cranberries
3 T white flour
1/2 C sugar
1/8 t salt
1 T lime juice
1 T butter (the real stuff, no margarine for me!)
In a large Ziploc bag, mix flour, sugar and salt. Add fruit and lemon juice. Zip closed and shake until fruit is covered. Set aside.
Crust:
1 1/4 C whole wheat flour
1 C white flour (unbleached)
3/4 t salt
2/3 C coconut oil
about 7 T water
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
In a large bowl, mix flours and salt thoroughly. Add coconut oil and use a pastry blender to cut the shortening until the pieces are very small. Sprinkle 1 T at a time over mixture; gently toss with a fork and then move the moisturized dough to one side of the bowl. Do this until all of the dough mixture is moistened.
Use your hands to form dough into two even balls and place in refrigerator.
Sprinkle alittle whole wheat flour on the table and begin to roll out the dough into a circle. Make sure that the dough will fit the bottom and sides on pan. Place it into the pan and cut the edges around the outside; mix leftover dough with 2nd dough ball and repeat.
After the second dough ball has been rolled out, pour the fruit from the Ziploc bag into the bottom pie crust. Place the butter on top of the fruit and cover with the top crust. Cut away the extras and fold sides under, being sure to pinch the upper and lower crust together so that the fruit mixture doesn't leak. Cut a design in the top to allow airflow and throw it into the oven!
Cook pie at 425 degrees for 10 minutes and then lower the temperature to 350 degrees and continue cooking for 30-40 minutes.
Now, what should you do with the extra dough? My favorite thing is to make mini cinnamon rolls! Melt 1 t cinnamon, 1 t sugar and 2 t butter in the microwave for 15 seconds. Roll out extra dough in a rectangle and then spread sugar mixture all the way to the sides. Roll up and cut into small pieces. (usually makes 5-6) Put into the oven for 10-12 minutes (with the pie of course) and you have a great snack while waiting for your pie to finish cooking!
Note: the pie smells somewhat like coconut but the taste is minimal. I use coconut oil rather than shortening for many reasons:
- it's all natural
- it's melting point is 75 degrees so it's just as easy to mold
- no hydrogenated oils!
God's Guidence
I was amazed last weekend at the grace that God showed towards me as I was heading back to Chicago from my week stay in Colorado.
I flew into Denver on a buddy pass (meaning standby) and was able to have great conversations with friends and family during the 4 hour drive to Grand Junction. The week was very good. Relaxing. Seeing my family was very fun, it was hard to be away from my husband but also provided much more time to sit and talk with my mom. (one of my favorite things)
I was planning all week to get a ride back to Denver on Saturday evening in order to spend the night with my friends Mike and Aimee. As Friday rolled around, there was a surprising change in plans: Michael and Casey were going to bring me to Denver but we would leave on Friday to spend the night in Breckenridge with really good friends. Very exciting to me.
Saturday afternoon, Michael and Casey drove the 2 hour drive from the mountains to Mike and Aimee's house and I was very anxious to arrive and see Aimee and the baby.
After spending 45 minutes talking to Mike (Aimee was taking a nap), I decided to call the airport to change the Sunday light from 1:30 to 3:00 in order to join M&A at church the following morning. The Frontier employee was very kind and helpful but eventually let me know that all of the flights on Sunday were booked and that it would be unlikely that I would be able to make any of them.
Scared for a moment, then I asked if there were any Saturday night flights. Fortunately, there was a flight in 2 hours and I made it there on time (thank you Mike). I got to see my Mike a day sooner and all was well.
On the drive home, I was thinking about what would've happened if the circumstances were just alittle different...
Thank you Lord for guiding my steps and allowing me a safe flight back to Chicago.
I flew into Denver on a buddy pass (meaning standby) and was able to have great conversations with friends and family during the 4 hour drive to Grand Junction. The week was very good. Relaxing. Seeing my family was very fun, it was hard to be away from my husband but also provided much more time to sit and talk with my mom. (one of my favorite things)
I was planning all week to get a ride back to Denver on Saturday evening in order to spend the night with my friends Mike and Aimee. As Friday rolled around, there was a surprising change in plans: Michael and Casey were going to bring me to Denver but we would leave on Friday to spend the night in Breckenridge with really good friends. Very exciting to me.
Saturday afternoon, Michael and Casey drove the 2 hour drive from the mountains to Mike and Aimee's house and I was very anxious to arrive and see Aimee and the baby.
After spending 45 minutes talking to Mike (Aimee was taking a nap), I decided to call the airport to change the Sunday light from 1:30 to 3:00 in order to join M&A at church the following morning. The Frontier employee was very kind and helpful but eventually let me know that all of the flights on Sunday were booked and that it would be unlikely that I would be able to make any of them.
Scared for a moment, then I asked if there were any Saturday night flights. Fortunately, there was a flight in 2 hours and I made it there on time (thank you Mike). I got to see my Mike a day sooner and all was well.
On the drive home, I was thinking about what would've happened if the circumstances were just alittle different...
What if the original flight was already after church? Then I wouldn't need to call and confirm. What if I had decided to drive up on Sunday or I had made that phone call just 30 minutes later?I wouldn't have been able to be home in time for work on Monday and it would've been a miserable day at the airport.
Thank you Lord for guiding my steps and allowing me a safe flight back to Chicago.
Monday, November 13, 2006
biggest knitting project yet!
I just finished my fingerless gloves for Nancy! I got the pattern from pretendingsanity.com.
I followed the pattern exactly except a "few" mistakes. It is my first time with gloves, what do you expect?
I used Misti Alpaca Chunky in an egg plant color and they're so soft!
I followed the pattern exactly except a "few" mistakes. It is my first time with gloves, what do you expect?
I used Misti Alpaca Chunky in an egg plant color and they're so soft!
Thursday, November 09, 2006
babies everywhere!
So, my week in Colorado is almost finished. It has been a very fun week to hang out with my family and friends. Here are the adorable little boys that I'm staying with:
Joseph
Joseph
and Noah
Here are the cute beanies that I knitted them. GO BRONCOS! 
And we can't forget Isaiah! 
It has certainly been a fun week to see my family but I am very excited to get back to the windy city and see my husband again. Though, I will miss the saldal weather that we still have here in Colorado!
Happy knitting!! I will begin to post Christmas presents soon for your enjoyment! :)
Saturday, October 28, 2006
SATURDAY!
It's Saturday at last! This week went by very quickly. It was pretty busy. I talked to the management team on Thursday and requested to change the office hours. No one had any problems with that so I will now be working from 7:00am-3:30pm. I'm not super excited about the getting up early part but I know that it will be better for the office since it's actually busy in the morning-and not in the afternoon.
I'm eating papaya and boiling water for some oatmeal. Weekends are fun because I don't usually cook unless I want to. Exciting! I'm thinking fish for dinner.
So, I'm debating bringing my rollerblades to Colorado next week. I think that would be a fun way to get around--but it is super cold? That would be helpful because I won't have a gym to go to all week long. Maybe I'll go with Casey once or twice. Opinions about the rollerblades?
Mike was so excited about the HUGE apple that he picked when we went apple picking in MI. Here he is!
I'm eating papaya and boiling water for some oatmeal. Weekends are fun because I don't usually cook unless I want to. Exciting! I'm thinking fish for dinner.
So, I'm debating bringing my rollerblades to Colorado next week. I think that would be a fun way to get around--but it is super cold? That would be helpful because I won't have a gym to go to all week long. Maybe I'll go with Casey once or twice. Opinions about the rollerblades?
Mike was so excited about the HUGE apple that he picked when we went apple picking in MI. Here he is!
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Distorted Beauty
There is a blog that I visit frequently... okay, daily... called Girl Talk. It's a mother and her 3 grown daughters talking about being woman, mothers and wives. It is very informative. I have learned and grown alot though it. Here is a link to a recent post that was partially convicting but reminds me of the grace that the Lord has shown to me-through my sinfulness. Here it is: Distorted Beauty
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Monday, October 16, 2006
A Faith for All Seasons
I just finished the book A Faith for All Seasons by Ted M. Dorman. The last chapter was on escatology (the study of last things) and it ended with this beautiful picture of heaven. I know it's legnthy but it's worth reading at least once. Hope you're as blessed as I have been through it!
With these words John tells us that the heavenly city is not an attainment after all. It is, in the end, a gift. And this gift does not consist so much on God's bringing us up to himself as it does in God's condescending to come live with us. The divine condescension first revealed in the incarnation will become the reality of both God's existence and ours throughout eternity. This is platonic dualism turned on it's head. The material world is not cast off, but remade and inhabited by God himself.
Such a promise defies description. For this reason the author of Revelation uses brilliant metaphor upon brilliant metaphor to disclose the inscrutable, so that we might be motivated to embrace that which we cannot see. To call heaven the "final state" does not do justice to the vision of the apostle. He portrays heaven not so much as a final state as a pulsating eternity of joyous activity in the presence of God and his people. There is no temple; there are no priests. God's people have immediate access to their Redeemer. Even if Thomas Aquinas was right when he said that people cannot have immediate knowledge of God by divine illumination in this present evil age This will not be the case in heaven. The curse that has separated humanity from the divine presence shall at last be lifted. The tree of life will no longer be off limits.
The various colors of stones that adorn the heavenly city reflect a diversity that belies popular notions of heaven as a dull place whose inhabitants sit on cloud and strum harps. It may also reflect the New Testament's indications that there will be differences in heavenly rewards, a view echoed by Papias the disciple of John and the great forth century preacher John Chrysostom. Yet despite this diversity there will be no envy among the citizens of the celestial city. It would appear that every person's cup will be full, even while their cups are different sizes. No one shall sense a lack of the joy of the Lord. For God has promised:
Revelation 21:1-3
Then I saw new heaven and new earth... I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself with be with them and be their God."
With these words John tells us that the heavenly city is not an attainment after all. It is, in the end, a gift. And this gift does not consist so much on God's bringing us up to himself as it does in God's condescending to come live with us. The divine condescension first revealed in the incarnation will become the reality of both God's existence and ours throughout eternity. This is platonic dualism turned on it's head. The material world is not cast off, but remade and inhabited by God himself.
Such a promise defies description. For this reason the author of Revelation uses brilliant metaphor upon brilliant metaphor to disclose the inscrutable, so that we might be motivated to embrace that which we cannot see. To call heaven the "final state" does not do justice to the vision of the apostle. He portrays heaven not so much as a final state as a pulsating eternity of joyous activity in the presence of God and his people. There is no temple; there are no priests. God's people have immediate access to their Redeemer. Even if Thomas Aquinas was right when he said that people cannot have immediate knowledge of God by divine illumination in this present evil age This will not be the case in heaven. The curse that has separated humanity from the divine presence shall at last be lifted. The tree of life will no longer be off limits.
The various colors of stones that adorn the heavenly city reflect a diversity that belies popular notions of heaven as a dull place whose inhabitants sit on cloud and strum harps. It may also reflect the New Testament's indications that there will be differences in heavenly rewards, a view echoed by Papias the disciple of John and the great forth century preacher John Chrysostom. Yet despite this diversity there will be no envy among the citizens of the celestial city. It would appear that every person's cup will be full, even while their cups are different sizes. No one shall sense a lack of the joy of the Lord. For God has promised:
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new." Revelation 21:4-5
Friday, October 13, 2006
halfway!
So, Mike had midterms last week and they went well! YAY! Halfway through this semester and it's been a very fun one. Mike is learning a ton but isn't overwhelmed or stressed at all. I think that it's because he's stuck at Moody until I get off work so he sits and studies all day. The evenings, lately, have been relaxing. We get home and I cook dinner and then we sit on the bed and listen to sermons online. John Piper recently had a pastor's conference on postmodernism so we're going through those right now. They are very good.
Work is going well. It's definently slowing down and I can't tell if that's a good thing or bad. I know that it will pick up again in a couple weeks. Why? you may ask? Because I've been looking for a program to organize our work orders in for the past 6 months--and I found a good one! The tech guy in my department, (Paul) looked into it for a couple weeks to be sure that it would be good and we bought it yesterday! IT SHOULD BE UP WITHIN A MONTH! It gets better. I hinted to the tech guy that I didn't mind helping with the setup and guess what he said: Oh, I wasn't planning on doing any of it!! That means I get to set it up on my own! Of course Paul will help if I need it but still...
Going to Ed Devick's for dinner with some friends and then we're babysitting for some other friends. Cute little boys. Nothing planned this weekend and that's the way I like it. :)
Work is going well. It's definently slowing down and I can't tell if that's a good thing or bad. I know that it will pick up again in a couple weeks. Why? you may ask? Because I've been looking for a program to organize our work orders in for the past 6 months--and I found a good one! The tech guy in my department, (Paul) looked into it for a couple weeks to be sure that it would be good and we bought it yesterday! IT SHOULD BE UP WITHIN A MONTH! It gets better. I hinted to the tech guy that I didn't mind helping with the setup and guess what he said: Oh, I wasn't planning on doing any of it!! That means I get to set it up on my own! Of course Paul will help if I need it but still...
Going to Ed Devick's for dinner with some friends and then we're babysitting for some other friends. Cute little boys. Nothing planned this weekend and that's the way I like it. :)
Sunday, October 08, 2006
big changes
So, I have been thinking a lot lately about taking classes toward a bachelor's degree. It has been something going through my head but I know that I don't want to quit my job and go to school-I want to allow my husband to finish first. I brought it up so Mike today and I'm going to talk with my friend in admissions this week! Of course Mike offered to take a break from school so that I can go full-time but I really don't want that. I am planning on taking a basic course next semester and in the fall, taking 2. Then just go through slowly as I will be "around" colleges for the next few years. I know I want to bring glory to the Lord in my life-I think that this would be a great opportunity to meet people (other than at Moody) because most of the students already know our Lord. Just because we're "preparing for ministry", I don't want to wait to witness to unbelievers until we're done. So many decisions. I have a lot of prayer before I will even make the final decision. Mike is very encouraging though. He's a nice boy. :)
I got some shelves and drawers for my SB stuff. I decided that a desk would be too much of a pain. I think that it looks pretty good. I need to go back for a couple more things though. The Container Store is such a fun place. Tons of stuff that you don't need but everything would make your home so much more organized. :)
Well, off to bed for tonite. Thanks for your prayers through our time of decision!
I got some shelves and drawers for my SB stuff. I decided that a desk would be too much of a pain. I think that it looks pretty good. I need to go back for a couple more things though. The Container Store is such a fun place. Tons of stuff that you don't need but everything would make your home so much more organized. :)
Well, off to bed for tonite. Thanks for your prayers through our time of decision!
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Sunday afternoon
Well, it's a beautiful Sunday afternoon! I just finished my CJ and I'm excited to see how my mom likes it.
I broke down and entered another scrapbooking swp thing. It's a recipe one and I'm pretty excited. I'm looking to get a scrapbooking desk so that I don't have to keep everything out on my table anymore. Yea, that would be nice. Any ideas? I want it to be white and not cheap looking.
Well, I think that I'll listen to one of Dr. Zuber's sermons that I missed... and take a nap. :)
UPDATES:
Mike's recorder thing STILL hasn't arrived. They "forgot" to let me know that is was on backorder... but I'm being patient.
My purse still looks exactly as it did last week. I'm hoping ot have time to work on it tomorrow though.
I broke down and entered another scrapbooking swp thing. It's a recipe one and I'm pretty excited. I'm looking to get a scrapbooking desk so that I don't have to keep everything out on my table anymore. Yea, that would be nice. Any ideas? I want it to be white and not cheap looking.
Well, I think that I'll listen to one of Dr. Zuber's sermons that I missed... and take a nap. :)
UPDATES:
Mike's recorder thing STILL hasn't arrived. They "forgot" to let me know that is was on backorder... but I'm being patient.
My purse still looks exactly as it did last week. I'm hoping ot have time to work on it tomorrow though.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
VN 3100pc (update)
So, it still hasn't come in but I'm practicing patience. I did, by the way, order Mike a battery charger and rechargable batters. That will save us a fortune on that thing!
I also have a pic of my purse that I'm knitting.
There are many mistakes but it's mine so I don't mind. I really like the suaede yarn! Very soft and fun!
Well, of to clean up the office and go home! Have a good night!
I also have a pic of my purse that I'm knitting.
There are many mistakes but it's mine so I don't mind. I really like the suaede yarn! Very soft and fun!
Well, of to clean up the office and go home! Have a good night!
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
VN 3100pc
So, I'm so excited! I ordered Mike a voice recorder because I love him and it will be in today, hopefully. He has wanted one to record some of his classes and I told him I found one but he doesn't know that I ordered it on Monday with 1-2 day shipping. AHHH I'm horrible with surprises because I get to excited! Here it is:http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1272
He's going to be so happy! I like to make him happy. Now I just need to get him some rechargable batteries so taht we don't waste a fortune on those. It's not as expensive as I thought it would be but we don't need an mp3 so that cuts the cost drastically. I love my Michael.
Well, work is going. I'm very excited to go home and knit and it's hard to stay focused. I'm knitting a purse with suaede. Here's a picture of the pattern I'm using.
The pattern is for a scarf but I'm just shortening it a bit. It is fun and challenging. It's hard with the yarn I chose but will be worth it when it's done. I'll post a pic when it is.
YAY FOR KNITTING
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Tuesday
Well, I'm at work on Tuesday and it's pretty busy. I really enjoy working at Moody Bible Institute. My current exciting project is Microsoft Outlook. It is a program that helps organize your email, calendar and tasks. I think that I can run my whole job through this program--it's amazing.
So, I'm hoping to get to a knitting store tonite. There is a certain yarn that I want so that I can knit something pretty. I'll post it when I'm done. Actually, there are 2 things on my list... so exciting.
Nancy sent me some beautifully fun yarn and I'm excited to knit Mike a hat with some of it. Thanks, Nancy!
Well, I've also taken up scrapbooking. I will try to post pics here. I am very excited and it is very fun-though I'm nervous because I'm new. I joined a "circle journal" which means I make my book, give it a theme and do the first page and then send my book to someone else. There are like 10 people total and in the end, your book is full and you do a page in everyone's. It is pretty exciting I think. I need to finish my page though and get it sent. Maybe I'll do that tonite.
Well, there's my schedule. I know there isn't anything too exciting this time but if I only post when it's exciting, I won't write too much.
This post is dedicated to Elijah Lindsay Archer because he's cute.
So, I'm hoping to get to a knitting store tonite. There is a certain yarn that I want so that I can knit something pretty. I'll post it when I'm done. Actually, there are 2 things on my list... so exciting.
Nancy sent me some beautifully fun yarn and I'm excited to knit Mike a hat with some of it. Thanks, Nancy!
Well, I've also taken up scrapbooking. I will try to post pics here. I am very excited and it is very fun-though I'm nervous because I'm new. I joined a "circle journal" which means I make my book, give it a theme and do the first page and then send my book to someone else. There are like 10 people total and in the end, your book is full and you do a page in everyone's. It is pretty exciting I think. I need to finish my page though and get it sent. Maybe I'll do that tonite.
Well, there's my schedule. I know there isn't anything too exciting this time but if I only post when it's exciting, I won't write too much.
This post is dedicated to Elijah Lindsay Archer because he's cute.
Friday, September 15, 2006
friday night
triple small
sugar-free vanilla
non-fat latte
ast 11:00pm
that means Mikes computer isn't doing well and I'm trying to fix it.
I don't know which is worse... the espresso or my skillz
...
sugar-free vanilla
non-fat latte
ast 11:00pm
that means Mikes computer isn't doing well and I'm trying to fix it.
I don't know which is worse... the espresso or my skillz
...
Saturday, September 02, 2006
rollerblading
So, I got up this morning/afternoon and went rollerblaging up the lake. It's about 75 degrees outside-perfect-and the water was very pretty. I had a consistant eastern breeze the entire time. (that's means going against the wind both ways) Anyway, it was fun. I got home and looked up how far I had gone... Yea 10 miles on the path plus 2.5 getting to/from the path. Got to the end of the path even--one of my "someday" goals.
Map of Lake Shore
Look there if you want. I went from Fullerton (5) to the very top (0) and back to Fullerton. Yea, I'm in need of a shower.
Brandon and Sharon are coming over tonite to begin our LIFE group for this semister. It's small but we hope that it will grow.
Later--
Map of Lake Shore
Look there if you want. I went from Fullerton (5) to the very top (0) and back to Fullerton. Yea, I'm in need of a shower.
Brandon and Sharon are coming over tonite to begin our LIFE group for this semister. It's small but we hope that it will grow.
Later--
Friday, September 01, 2006
taxi drivers
Well, it's been a busy week but Friday is finally here. Work is going great! Lots of fun project that I'm working on--I'll try to post my newsletter on Tuesday when I return to work.
We had one of Mike's friends over with his girlfriend tonite. Man was I nervous!! Ken and Audrey are their names. I cooked taco salad and it was very good. Not to brag or anything but I make some mean ground beef. :) Seriously though, I have finally found the seasonings I like: salt, pepper, cayenne and tabasco. Then we ate brownies that she brought (very tasty) and played Mexican Train. I WON! The scores looked like this after 6 rounds (1/2 a game):
Audrey 171
Mike 170
Ken 151
Dannon 15
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!? I ACTUALLY WON ALL BUT 2 OF THE GAMES!! YES!!
Well, it'll be a fun day tomorrow. We'll kinda clean up for my parents' arrival but there isn't much to do. I think I'll scrub the bathtub and clean the curtain as it's looking alittle brown. Maybe go rollerblading.
I changed the cover for my IPOD to green. It looks alien-like. Listened to The Frey and Gavin DeGraw all day. My new favorite song is by Gavin DeGraw: Just Friends but I have Dancing Shoes stuck in my head. Yea, I pretty much like all but a couple of the songs. good cd. Mike doesn't really like it but he's still my favorite.
Well, I guess that's it for tonite. Have a good night, people.
Oh yea, I guess I'll comment about the title. When you're driving in the city after like 10:30pm you look around and it's very much 5:1 taxi drivers. That's 5 taxis for every 1 normal car. reason enough to stay inside at night... I guess for each taxi, that's a group of drunk drivers off the road but you don't really think about that in the fear of hitting a taxi. I guess that's something you have to see in real life to understand... kinda like my parents who will be here in only 2 more days will have the opportunity to see and believe!
The spell check on here is almost as bad as my spelling... it ALWAYS guesses the wrong word :(
We had one of Mike's friends over with his girlfriend tonite. Man was I nervous!! Ken and Audrey are their names. I cooked taco salad and it was very good. Not to brag or anything but I make some mean ground beef. :) Seriously though, I have finally found the seasonings I like: salt, pepper, cayenne and tabasco. Then we ate brownies that she brought (very tasty) and played Mexican Train. I WON! The scores looked like this after 6 rounds (1/2 a game):
Audrey 171
Mike 170
Ken 151
Dannon 15
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!? I ACTUALLY WON ALL BUT 2 OF THE GAMES!! YES!!
Well, it'll be a fun day tomorrow. We'll kinda clean up for my parents' arrival but there isn't much to do. I think I'll scrub the bathtub and clean the curtain as it's looking alittle brown. Maybe go rollerblading.
I changed the cover for my IPOD to green. It looks alien-like. Listened to The Frey and Gavin DeGraw all day. My new favorite song is by Gavin DeGraw: Just Friends but I have Dancing Shoes stuck in my head. Yea, I pretty much like all but a couple of the songs. good cd. Mike doesn't really like it but he's still my favorite.
Well, I guess that's it for tonite. Have a good night, people.
Oh yea, I guess I'll comment about the title. When you're driving in the city after like 10:30pm you look around and it's very much 5:1 taxi drivers. That's 5 taxis for every 1 normal car. reason enough to stay inside at night... I guess for each taxi, that's a group of drunk drivers off the road but you don't really think about that in the fear of hitting a taxi. I guess that's something you have to see in real life to understand... kinda like my parents who will be here in only 2 more days will have the opportunity to see and believe!
The spell check on here is almost as bad as my spelling... it ALWAYS guesses the wrong word :(
Sunday, August 27, 2006
VEGGIE CHIPS
So my new healthy favorite is veggie chips. They don't taste like chips really, they're a little bit fluffy but they're very good. Add some hummus or spinach dip and you're good to go!
Church was vey good today. I feel like I'm learning a growing a ton every week. Who knew that there was this much to learn in the beginning chapters of Romans? Today we did an exposition of Genesis 15 (because Romans 4 is all about Abraham) and it was fun to studdy a different passage--since we've been in Romans for over a yea now--but also to see how God worked then, even before Christ died. Good job Dr. Zuber.
It'll be up on the website next week (because I won't get it until next Sunday).
www.gracebiblechurchnorthwest.com
Church was vey good today. I feel like I'm learning a growing a ton every week. Who knew that there was this much to learn in the beginning chapters of Romans? Today we did an exposition of Genesis 15 (because Romans 4 is all about Abraham) and it was fun to studdy a different passage--since we've been in Romans for over a yea now--but also to see how God worked then, even before Christ died. Good job Dr. Zuber.
It'll be up on the website next week (because I won't get it until next Sunday).
www.gracebiblechurchnorthwest.com
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Pampered chef (update)
Yea, the dessert was so good!! Each piece (1/8 of a pie) has only 125 calories and it fills you up. It's breakfasty because it's mainly eggs... Probably low in carbs too. Good job PC
Pampered Chef
So, I used my Pampered Chef Cookbook for the first and second time today. (thanks mom!)
Made us Curly Pasta and Chicken Toss (with spaghetti rather than curly pasta) and in the oven for dessert is Apple Oven Pancake.
The pasta was very good and pretty healthy. The sauce was made from chicken broth and cornstarch and it has veggies. Tasted very Thai and if I had peanuts, they would have completed it. The dessert is still cooking but I'm sure it ill be equally as good.
Don't have a camera so I can't post pics of this one but trust me, it's tasty!
Just hanging out today. Mike took a couple naps while I baked and looked at a knitting book. Need to buy some yarn for gifts but it's so expensive and what if it's not exactly perfect? So much stress I suppose.
Well, 8 more days until my parents come! YEA!
Made us Curly Pasta and Chicken Toss (with spaghetti rather than curly pasta) and in the oven for dessert is Apple Oven Pancake.
The pasta was very good and pretty healthy. The sauce was made from chicken broth and cornstarch and it has veggies. Tasted very Thai and if I had peanuts, they would have completed it. The dessert is still cooking but I'm sure it ill be equally as good.
Don't have a camera so I can't post pics of this one but trust me, it's tasty!
Just hanging out today. Mike took a couple naps while I baked and looked at a knitting book. Need to buy some yarn for gifts but it's so expensive and what if it's not exactly perfect? So much stress I suppose.
Well, 8 more days until my parents come! YEA!
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
unknown
Well, I still have a headache from yesterday. Oh well, here's my latest fun picture. It looks betting b&w but I'll put both. I had to superimpose 2 guys into it because they weren't available for the original and one last guy is taking the picture. I'm not sure where to put him...
This is Mike's crew that he worked with all summer. Robert, Elliott, MIKE, Jim (the supervisor) and Michael. Mike had a blast and is excited for next summer. Of course, after next summer we only have 1 more semester here so that's bittersweet--now--I'll let you know if that changes.
This is Mike's crew that he worked with all summer. Robert, Elliott, MIKE, Jim (the supervisor) and Michael. Mike had a blast and is excited for next summer. Of course, after next summer we only have 1 more semester here so that's bittersweet--now--I'll let you know if that changes.
Monday, August 21, 2006
eating healthy
Sometimes I wonder why Mike and I eat so healthy. They say that it's good for you to eat healthy but I don't go to the doctor to find out how "healthy" I am. Maybe it's because when I don't eat healthy it makes me sick--yet if I ate unhealthy, more often I'd become immune. Odd. I ate a mini Kit Kat today and have had a headache ever since. Yea, dumb but I'm torn. I like eating healthy but does it really pay off I wonder... Maybe in 50 years, when I'm old, it will be obvious who ate fast food and who didn't. I sure hope that there's long-term effects or something.
Didn't rollerblade to the gym this morning but I did some kickboxing this afternoon so that makes up for it. I watched Runaway Jury over the weekend and the girl on there totally beat up that guy--at least she put up a fight. I think that I will need alittle more kickboxing to do that. Kickboxing is more a workout than self-defense. I can punch someone with very good technique. ;)
Mike is on the couch studying. Maybe I should get out my coloring books... I think that I need new ones because the old ones were put in a safe place out of the way...
It's very fun to be back in the swing of things. No more wondering what we'll do tonite or feeling guilty about staying home on a beautiful night. I know that we're going to read and now that I've finally come to that realization, I am happy about it. I have fun things planned this semester to get out of the house and I'm ready for that all to begin. YAY! Chicago is the best! The Lord has really blessed us here.
Didn't rollerblade to the gym this morning but I did some kickboxing this afternoon so that makes up for it. I watched Runaway Jury over the weekend and the girl on there totally beat up that guy--at least she put up a fight. I think that I will need alittle more kickboxing to do that. Kickboxing is more a workout than self-defense. I can punch someone with very good technique. ;)
Mike is on the couch studying. Maybe I should get out my coloring books... I think that I need new ones because the old ones were put in a safe place out of the way...
It's very fun to be back in the swing of things. No more wondering what we'll do tonite or feeling guilty about staying home on a beautiful night. I know that we're going to read and now that I've finally come to that realization, I am happy about it. I have fun things planned this semester to get out of the house and I'm ready for that all to begin. YAY! Chicago is the best! The Lord has really blessed us here.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Last Day of Summer
Well, we've waited all summer for tomorrow. The reason that we're in Chicago, that's I'm working at Moody and that Mike reads to much: school. Tomorrow is the big day. I've been looking forward to it (strangely) for the past few weeks. I really like the summer as Mike and I seem to spend more money on fun and less time being responsible. I guess it all has to come to an end sometime and that sometime begins at 8:00am.
We went out to dinner and then to Coldstone tonite to talk about this next semister. It was very fun. During the school year we don't go out to eat vey much--not vey healthy and if we "splurge" all of the time we won't have anything left.
Well, it's 9:41pm and I should get to bed. The gym finially opens at 6:30am again rather than the 9:00am summer hours. YES! Rollerblade to the gym!
We went out to dinner and then to Coldstone tonite to talk about this next semister. It was very fun. During the school year we don't go out to eat vey much--not vey healthy and if we "splurge" all of the time we won't have anything left.
Well, it's 9:41pm and I should get to bed. The gym finially opens at 6:30am again rather than the 9:00am summer hours. YES! Rollerblade to the gym!
Friday, August 18, 2006
Raindrops falling on my head...
It's pouring here. Funny, it's either little sprinkles or downfall-- often times without notice. Chicago is so fun.
Work was good today. I got a whole new project plopped in my lap and part of me began to feel stressed... then I remembered how much grace is in my office and how blessed I am to be able to learn and grow in an environment where I'm allowed to make mistakes. Konrad (the highest up facilities manager) told me the other day that if I didn't make mistakes 10-20% of the time, I wasn't working hard enough. Wow, that sure made me feel better. I was gonna go rollerblading with Amanda today but, as mentioned above, it was raining. She came over for pita tacos and a feisty game of Mexican Train instead. Fuuuuun stuff. Oh, I got a new bag today! It's SO CUTE! It'll be good to rollerblade and stuff because with my side bag, I'm a little off balance. The brand is Timbuk2 and it's very sturdy and durable. Mike got a bag for school that is, eh, very large. Good thing because he has alot of books.
Well, I'm off for a snack of Edamame (soy beans in their pods) and Mike and I are watching a documentary on... uh, I think ecstasy. He likes learning about drugs. I love him.Goodnight
(only 4 "accidental" spelling errors in this one!)
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Ashley Wilkes Stockingdale
I just finished part 3 of my fun, new novel series. Unfortunately, three is the lucky number the writer came up with to end the series. But, Ashley has married the handsome Kevin and lives happily ever after.
http://www.kristinbillerbeck.com/chick_lit.htm
It's wired how much you can get into the lives of "fake characters". I have to be careful after I'm done with my emotions... to come back to earth for a time. You get so wrapped up in it-- I don't have a TV but it's just like a soap opera except you can "see what happens next" WHENEVER YOU WANT!
Well, I think that I'm through with the novels for a while. You can't hold a conversation about a novel very well--rather, my husband would talk to me about theology for hours. I miss have everything to fresh in my mind. It's like, there's so much information out there that, even at the speed Mike reads, he'll never be able to get through it all. Amazing. God is so good. Anyway, A Faith for All Seasons is my current read and it's a toughie. I wanted a book that would stretch my academically so that I would be able to grow in my reading skills but also in my everyday communication skills. Working at a school where the students, in 5 months, will read almost as many books as I've read in my whole life I need to be able to communicate. I don't understand how reading can do that to you. It's like, my whole vocabulary changes when I'm stretching myself. (too bad my spelling doesn't improve as well)
Well, that's my ramble for tonite. I have worked some overtime this week so I'm not going in until 9 tomorrow. YES! I've been up at 5:00am (and occasionally snooze to 5:30am) everyday this week. Mike and I are sleeping in!!
Love you Mom. 2 weeks and 3 days.
http://www.kristinbillerbeck.com/chick_lit.htm
It's wired how much you can get into the lives of "fake characters". I have to be careful after I'm done with my emotions... to come back to earth for a time. You get so wrapped up in it-- I don't have a TV but it's just like a soap opera except you can "see what happens next" WHENEVER YOU WANT!
Well, I think that I'm through with the novels for a while. You can't hold a conversation about a novel very well--rather, my husband would talk to me about theology for hours. I miss have everything to fresh in my mind. It's like, there's so much information out there that, even at the speed Mike reads, he'll never be able to get through it all. Amazing. God is so good. Anyway, A Faith for All Seasons is my current read and it's a toughie. I wanted a book that would stretch my academically so that I would be able to grow in my reading skills but also in my everyday communication skills. Working at a school where the students, in 5 months, will read almost as many books as I've read in my whole life I need to be able to communicate. I don't understand how reading can do that to you. It's like, my whole vocabulary changes when I'm stretching myself. (too bad my spelling doesn't improve as well)
Well, that's my ramble for tonite. I have worked some overtime this week so I'm not going in until 9 tomorrow. YES! I've been up at 5:00am (and occasionally snooze to 5:30am) everyday this week. Mike and I are sleeping in!!
Love you Mom. 2 weeks and 3 days.
Monday, August 14, 2006
grocery day
Well, it's grocery day and that is very obvious seeing that I just made stew with the last of the food in my house. I added it up today and realized that we spend just over $7 a day on groceries. Here in Chicago, that would buy you half of a meal at an average restaurant. I guess it encourages me to grocery shop... tomorrow. My stew is smelling goooooood. It's got:
Mike is in the shower. He just cut his hair, which is nice. It was getting shaggy but he's keeping the beard equal length with the hair-had to be specific this time... don't want another goateein my house!
Oh and the goatee got longer than that!
Adorable child, don't you think? Kaylee is her name. She's not his though I think that the look fits. She's coming to visit me in a few more days! Man am I excited to have Brandon and Sharon back in town! My friend, we can go to the beach and go on walks... to Portillo's to get a cake shake!! They take the best piece of chocolate cake that you'll ever have (second maybe to the Grand Lux) and throw it in a milkshake!! Frosting and everything!
Well, off to finish the stew.
Dannon
- black beans
- pinto beans
- broccoli
- basil
- tomatoes
- jalapeno peppers
- cayenne
- snap peas
- a veggie mix that has been sitting in my freezer
- and brown rice
- all of which is organic
Mike is in the shower. He just cut his hair, which is nice. It was getting shaggy but he's keeping the beard equal length with the hair-had to be specific this time... don't want another goateein my house!
Oh and the goatee got longer than that!
Adorable child, don't you think? Kaylee is her name. She's not his though I think that the look fits. She's coming to visit me in a few more days! Man am I excited to have Brandon and Sharon back in town! My friend, we can go to the beach and go on walks... to Portillo's to get a cake shake!! They take the best piece of chocolate cake that you'll ever have (second maybe to the Grand Lux) and throw it in a milkshake!! Frosting and everything!
Well, off to finish the stew.
Dannon
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Apple Cider Vinegar
Well, it's my first blog so I suppose I should admit something... I just soaked my hair in apple cider vinegar because since I've been growing out my hair, my scalp is so dry!! I now smell awful and wonder if I've been fooled-yet I sure do hope it works as well as people say it does.
I must add that my Michael is so helpful to me as he is the one who spend 20 minutes putting this stuff on my scalp a spoonful at a time. He's the best.
I must add that my Michael is so helpful to me as he is the one who spend 20 minutes putting this stuff on my scalp a spoonful at a time. He's the best.
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