Adventures in emeals pt 1.

Well, we have tried emeals a few times before and while we really liked the idea of it (someone else planning your dinners, saving money, and having a grocery list made for you) we found that we really were left wanting more in the taste factors. However, this time around we have yet to be unsatisfied! 

Jer has discovered that processed tomatoes of any kind seem to really upset his stomach. So we went with the clean eating meal plan to try to avoid that... not to mention it can't hurt to eat healthier in general right? We committed to a three month plan (that gives you weekly dinners) and found a coupon code online (they are out there...www.retailmenot.com....don't pay full price). Also, we do the family plan so that we have leftovers for lunch etc. usually we have more than we need but id rather cook once and be done than add the lunch plan to our account and be cooking twice. :-)

Grocery shopping was a little bit of an undertaking just because I either couldn't find what I needed or we were going to make a substitution and I was figuring that out in my brain. I use the app so that makes grocery shopping fairly painless, AND I don't have to write on my paper copies. I do however write on the copies notes of what we liked or didn't, or any change we made.

The first meal was chicken corn chowder with a strawberry spinach salad. 

It was DELICIOUS. The salad called for goat cheese, but no way. I'm all for trying some new things but not that, not yet. We used feta, and it was awesome. The chowder I felt was a little thin but really really good! If you're dairy sensitive it may give you some pretty hearty gas though, just FYI. 

The second meal was coffee marinated chicken with blueberry sauce and lemony garlic peas. 

While it wasn't my favorite sauce I still liked it. The chicken was really good! I also really enjoyed the peas. Jer didn't care for either item but managed to eat it anyway. So it couldn't be TOO bad right? We were supposed to use snow peas....but I not only had never heard of them but couldn't find them either. So regular peas worked just fine! The sauce was probably a little thicker than it should have been, but all in all still a successful meal. 

The third meal was supposed to be horseradish-dill salmon with wild rice and asparagus. I don't have a picture of this one because we were so hungry by the time it was ready (and it was so good) I forgot to take a picture of it! We couldn't find salmon, so we bought cod. However, it had a puncture in the bag and just to be safe we threw it out and substituted chicken. Yum. Yum. YUM! I don't care much for fish anyway, so I was glad to know chicken was just as yummy. They said to grill it...but I pretty much use my George Foreman grill for anything that I can (some you can't...later in the week). Also, the asparagus would have been better in the rice if it were chopped a little smaller. We didn't like the big pieces. 

Fourth meal: Mushroom and Onion Quiche in a Potato Crust with Summer Fruit Salad

This made a perfect Saturday brunch! It was supposed to be asparagus not onion, but ours had gone bad before time to use it. I personally think the onion was probably better! I had forgotten to put cheese in so I had to pour out the egg, spoon the veggie mix back into the pan, put cheese in and then report egg....I was worried. However, it was amazing! Jer said possibly his favorite meal yet...EVER in emeals. I also added apples that we needed to eat to the salad. I think next time I would keep the apples and not out peaches and maybe add another kiwi! Who knew I liked kiwi!? It made SO much. But it's perfect for parfait breakfast as left overs. I'm a huge fan of this. This meal made me want to play and create my own dishes now, starting with potato cakes. 

And then today's meal.....Flank Steak with a Corn Salad and Grilled Zucchini 

Oh. My. Word. 

This one we did on the actual grill because you grilled bell peppers and corn for your salad. We did those separately and then out the steak and zucchini on. That corn salad was so awesome! It was so fresh on the steak. Delicious. The zucchini was good too. Next time I think I will slice the zucchini a little thinner instead of just in half. But it was great too! Jer LOVED this one. He can't wait to take it to work and show it off tomorrow. 

We did skip two meals this week...I will say we will probably always skip one. Cooking every night like this is tedious and tiring at times and sometimes you just want to come home and sit on the couch. So we get a "quick meal" when we grocery shop for those nights that cooking from scratch sounds too much to bear haha. Also, the app lets you skip meals and it adjusts your shopping list FOR YOU. it's genius. I love it.

So there you go. I highly suggest emeals clean eating program. We are excited about this week's meals...pulled pork nachos here we come! For more info or to sign up yourself go to: http://emeals.com/account/go.php?r=243091&i=b11

Oh and we also baked a Dark Rum Bundt Cake that was amazing and made me want to bake Bundt cakes monthly. 

It stuck to the pan on one side...but for our first try it was a win!

Testing 1,2,3

This is my life right now. 

Though I am getting better at getting up earlier. 

And by earlier I mean on time. 

And by on time, I mean 15 to 30 minutes later than my first alarm :-) 

But hey, it's a work in progress right?

***this blog is mainly to test how easy/hard it is to blog from my ipad***

Passion

8. What are 5 passions you have?

_________________________________________________

1. Musicals - At first I had put theatre. But then I realized that I am NOT passionate about plays. :) I enjoy them, I wouldnt MIND working on them...but they are NOT a passion. I NEED musicals in my life. I need to watch them. I need to be in them. I need to work on them. Ya.

2. Family - My family is the most important thing to me. I am so blessed to have such a great family.

3. My relationship with my husband - I love him so much and I love our constantly growing relationship. Today is 10 months married and I cant wait until its been 10 years and more. He was made for me.

4. My Dog - Dont mess with Peanut...or angry mama will come out. Ive ripped German Shepherds off of him before without thinking. He is my baby and I will not stand for harm coming to him. Not to mention his cuddles are the greatest ever. "Times like this a girl needs a dog"

5. Serving - I truly truly love helping others. And when I can do it without anyone knowing about it...I enjoy it more. There's something so amazing about knowing you're making someone else's day better. If I didnt HAVE to work...I would strictly be a volunteer.

#7. Dream Job

7. What is your dream job, and why?

When you think about dream jobs as a kid, you think about being a nurse, or a vet (all girls want to be a vet as a kid). I had all those "dreams" and then some! I'm pretty sure at one point I wanted to be a fire fighter. I blame Rescue 911 for that one. But as I got older, I realized that I had no desire for any profession.

When all the other kids were talking about what college they were going to and for what degree...I felt strange. I felt like I should want to be like them. But I didn't. I didn't want to go to college because I didn't want one of those degrees. I didn't want a regular ol job. And I certainly wasn't going to go pay for a degree that I would never use just to say that I went! (Not to mention the idea of sitting in a class full of strangers listening to lectures terrified me)

The truth is, I have always wanted to be a homemaker. A wife. A mom. A cook. A taxi. A medic. All those things that make up a good homemaker. That is what I want to do. And yes, "DO". People that think homemakers are just women who want to be lazy and refuse to work are crazy. There are plenty of women out there that do that...nothing. They sit on their butts and complain and let their house and children get out of control. I want to slap those kinds of women for giving those of us who actually want to create and provide a substantial home life for our families a bad name.

I want to be the woman who wakes up and fixes lunches and sees her family out the door before she takes the dog for their morning walk and run all the days errands. I want to be the woman who has the home clean and a real dinner prepared by the time her husband comes home. I want to be the woman who takes her kids to soccer and ballet (anything but football and hockey really) and brings snacks for all the other kids. I want to be the woman who not only keeps herself healthy but her family as well. I want to be the woman who has craft night, blanket fort night, and backyard camping nights with the kids while still being able to have date nights with my husband.

I want to do all of those things. And yes, that's a lot. But that's why its a "job". Its not a job in the sense that its something that I HAVE to do. Its a job in the sense that its work. Its something that will require diligence and patience and organization and time management and financial accounting. Its something that that I will have to work at but its something I want more than absolutely anything in the world. And maybe I cant do all those things (at least not at first) but I will do my damnedest trying.

{Plus, as a bonus, once my kiddos are a little older, I will have time to do theatre as a mom. To be able to be more involved while their away or in school etc. Right now, I have to work. So theatre is an addition to working and family. When my family is my work, it will make things easier (eventually ha). At least I think so. I sure do plan on it working out better in some manner that's for sure. }

I know this dream job is a while off from being able to come true. I'm okay with that! I dont mind working. I know its something that I have to do right now at this stage in my life. I know that its not an option and that's fine with me! Would I rather be home creating, cooking, and cleaning? YES!! But I'm lucky to have a husband that understands that I work a 9-5, so the house may not be clean all and the dinner may not be ready all the time. One day I will get to be a mom. One day. But until that day comes, I will work and see it as part of the process. Sometimes people just look at the goal...the end result and completely forget the beauty that can be in the process and progress. I too am guilty of overlooking it. But I try to remind myself all  the time...it will be your time one day. And when it is, you may miss these days....SO enjoy what you have when you have it.

My dream job will be reality one day. But until that day, I'm happy with my current one.

Honesty Unveiled: 6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?

{ This was an email I wrote to my mom today...who has lost a ton of weight eating healthy and exercising. She's a fifty-something woman in great shape who goes to kick ass bootcamp three times a week...she's incredible. And she's my rock. I felt like unveiling the fears etc might be healthy. So I just decided to post my email}

Ok. So tell me the details of bootcamp again.




I have to do something.



I feel like Im lost at sea drowning with no help in sight. I almost had a meltdown over it at work this morning when talking to Jer.



I have the "its hard to even try because I always quit and fail" mindset. Where it feels like its never going to get better. That Im always going to be unhealthy and Im just going to end up even larger. Like being on a roller coaster that you have no control over that never ends. Its terrifying. It scares me so much I feel like there's no sense in trying...because I will just end up failing again.



Clothes arent fitting. Im eating crap (all the time...in excess). Im not active. Im failing. And it honestly feels like Im failing my husband too. He is positive and reassurring to me and all that. He tells me Im beautiful and pretty etc. But no matter what he says, I dont feel it, so its hard to receive. I have only gained, not lost, despite my few attempts at trying. I just dont know what to do anymore,and its too hard.



Jer has said he will get up and start running with me in the morning. Which will be good. If he will. And if I dont have to drag him out of bed. Im not sure Im strong enough for me, little alone for him too. And Im sure he will support whatver I have to do. He's really amazing with me...as he should be. :) I just..ya. Im sure you relate to all the things Ive said from some point in your life.



It just makes me feel like Im a bad wife for not taking care of myself. And of course theres the whole lack of self love thing. I know, that I want to be healthy. Not just for self esteem and for making my husband proud of me...but for my future. I dont want to be one of those pregnant ladies you cant tell are pregnant. I dont want to be the overweight mom who cant get down on the ground with her kids and play. I want to be an active soccer mom. Not the one who sweats on the sidelines. Its not fair to me, them, or Jer.



And yet, here I am...where I've been a billion times. Knowing the problem...unable to actually make the solution a reality.



Why couldnt God have given our family the high metabolism genes?! :)

Happiness

5. What are 5 things that make you most happy right now?

Lets see. This should be fairly simple.

1. My husband and the love we share. Its my favorite thing.

2. The fact that the OKC Thunder are killing it this season, but more importantly that my favorite player is doing so well! (And Joel said he wouldnt last....HA!)

3. Volunteering, volunteering, volunteering. We have been volunteering at Jewel Box and Poteet theatre whenever we can and I love that its a way to be involved but not live there.

4. Peanut. I mean, how can you not look at this little guy's head and smile.

5. Knowing that in 20 weeks, 1 day, 16 hours and 27 minutes Jeremiah and I will be flying to New York for our ONE YEAR anniversary. It doesnt seem real, but the anticipation of it makes me so happy!!!



Dear 16 year old self....

4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.


This one is actually super hard for me to think back and figure out. I guess I feel like that was an incredibly long time ago (almost 11 years now....weird). So here it goes.
 
1. Your family may be falling apart right now, but I promise things will get better so just hang in there. They may never be the same...but life goes on and they do get better!
 
2. When Tommy asks to hold your hand, dont make fun of him for asking. He's being a gentleman and you're just too caught up in what you think a "real man" should be like you dont even recognize it.
 
3. Dont let Gabe's smooth talking and your need for affection fool you. You dont need him in your life. Just say no. He's not the one. You'll meet the one 8 years later and he's amazing. I know 8 years doesnt sound like fun, but he's worth it.
 
4. Take care of yourself. Dont use food as a crutch because it will haunt you for the rest of your life.
 
5. Its okay that you dont want to go to college. You will have plenty of skills to find work that dont require a degree. And not having a degree does not make you less of an important person.
 
6. I know driving seems scary to you because of the accident last year. But know that not everyone's breaks go out....that was a fluke situation. You can drive, and drive safely. Look that fear in the eye and do it. You'll be glad you did.
 
7. You're going to want an escape from the chaos that is going on in your family life. I know the pain seems unbearable, but dont medicate the feelings. Dont think a pill can make it go away. You'll feel foolish and guilty for thinking so later if you do. Find other outlets of release.
 
8. Get involved in musical theatre now. Though you would eventually find it later in life, why waste 5 years without feelings fulfilled. Its your passion and you just dont realize it. You also will think you cant do it. But you can.
 
9. Help out your mom more. You dont realize how hard it is for her right now. You know its hard, but you have no idea how hard. Hug her more. Help her more. And know that she too will be restored.
 
10. Its okay that your dad is gay. I know that this seems like the most horrible thing that could ever happen. But its okay. Its not something to be ashamed of. Its okay to mourn what you thought your dad was, but embrace who he is. It may not always be easy, but love is love.