it's better to burn out than to fade away (name that quote)

I've got burn-out.  Like nobody's business.

Since the race (like 3 weeks ago!) I've been dragging, dragging, draaaagging.  We took a week "off" after the race and ignored house projects, exercising, and any other unnecessary activities, and it's been super difficult getting up and going again.  I feel like I'm doing the bare minimum and sometimes not even that. 

So even though I pressed on in my race training and hit my PR, I feel like I'm barely keeping pace with everything else.  I haven't put on my running shoes in weeks and I find myself having a date with the couch every night.  I also started a new position at work and now as trainee I am uber-conscious of the fact that I'm a sloooow little newbie. 

The holidays are quickly approaching with Lila's birthday just a few weeks after.  My God, why didn't I plan her birthday in August like I did in good ol' 2010?  Simpler times, y'all.

Lessons learned I guess.  Now excuse me while I polish off a bag of sweet potato chips.  In my bed.

I'm disgusting.

meal list thursday

It's been a good couple of weeks.

We're back on track with the basement and holy cow, I'm pretty sure it's gonna get done before the end of the year.  Keep your fingers crossed and pray to Jesus with me that it does!  I'm super excited about the extra living space and I get all giddy thinking about how soonverysoon I'll get to reorganize the main level of our house and put everything back where it's supposed to go instead of tripping over Rubbermaid bins, random boxes, and misplaced toys.

And if I really let my mind go there I can daydream about all the ways I'd like to update and redecorate our house.  You know, if I'd found a hidden bag of cash in the basement rafters.  Or if Craig from Craigslist would just be a good friend and hook me up with awesome stuff in the Free section. 

(Tangent: have you ever READ the stuff in the Free section?  It provides me with much entertainment.  Like this post, and this and this and this.  These people/posts just make me laugh.  God love 'em.)

It's also been a good couple of weeks because I have officially transitioned to a different role at work.  I enjoyed my previous position as well, but I'm kinda pleased that I was chosen to do something different.   So now I just have to remind myself not to screw up royally. 


This week's meal list:

Grilled Top Sirloin Steak and Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Pretzel-Crusted Chicken Breasts With Cheddar Mustard Sauce and Steamed Broccoli (omg)
Pan-Grilled Salmon, Oven Roasted Potatoes, and Parmesan Tomatoes

Recipes here.  Remember: these recipes will make enough food for 2+ people for 2+ meals.

meal list thursday: lessons learned (and TGINovember)

It's been a nice, quiet week.  We've had few commitments the last week or two which has given us a bit of time to chill out on the couch, enjoy a few Halloween festivities (and eat lots of halloween "nandy" as Lila calls it), and act like normal people NOT trying to race against the clock.

Next time?  We'll not refinish a basement whilst mutually training for a half-marathon, training on alternating nights for 2+ months.  So long, long runs.  I miss my couch, I miss my kids, and I miss FB my husband.  But he has a rock-solid hot bod now (and he's sporting a new tattoo) so I'll shut my trap.   

And now that it's November, I have some Very Important Goals:
     1) sign up for Pinterest.  Invite me please.
     2) online-Christmas-shop until my fingers bleed.
     3) help Eric finish the basement.  Like for real finish this time.

(which segues to...)

Man, our basement is CRUSTY!  Earlier today I was on all fours scrubbing the concrete floors and cursing the previous owners when I realized: Uh-oh, we've owned this house for 7+ years so it's *kinda* our fault that it's still dirty. 

Next time?  I'll not buy a 70+ year-old house.  Nevermind that.  It's clean now, or at least that's what I'll tell you.  I have other things to tend to.  Like this week's meal list:

Braised Balsamic Chicken over Rice with Steamed Broccoli
Slow-Cooker Pot Roast with Potatoes and Carrots
BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Garden Salad (waaay down the list)

Recipes here.

b(re)aking bread

So I have a mental list of cooking techniques I'd like to master attempt, and bread-baking is pretty much at the top of the list.  I have no bread machine and I don't even know if I want one.  (Do I want one?)  I just want to learn how to make awesome bread!  And then eat it.

Coincidentally, I've been on the hunt for the perfect cooking class to attend so that I may use the Dierbergs giftcard my ridiculously pretty sister Becki gave me for Christmas a couple years ago.  (Which she gave to me knowing I'd use it for a class and not for apples made of 14k gold.)

So I chose a bread-baking class and Becki also signed up.  The assignment was to make a baguette of New York Rye and a loaf of Whole Grain Wheat.  It was taught by this adorable old lady who shared many tips for successful bread-baking and earnestly expressed how bread-baking "is a wonderful, womanly art" and how "you should always make an extra loaf to share with a friend."  How sweet is that?!? 

At that point Becki (who shares my dream of being a SAHM and eating bonbons all day raising our children) turned to me and whispered, "Don't you wish you could stay home all day and do wonderful womanly things like bake bread?" 

"Yes, Becki.  That WOULD be my very biggest dream come true."  [Actual, more colorful response omitted per the FCC's Eric's request.] 

i told you she was adorable.

she was too.

however, i look greasy and pasty.  kind of like the dough.

exhibit 1: whole wheat.
"eelicious!" as Finn would say.

exhibit 2: ny rye.
"get in my mouth."  as I would say.

We walked out with paper bags containing our hot-from-the-oven loaves.  And of course we filled a shopping basket with honey butter and apple butter to go with it. (I also found chocolate soy-nut butter for Finn. Fancy, Dierbergs, fancy!) The bread smelled incredible and tasted even better. And both loaves were gone in 3 days.  EEE-licious!