a list

…because I need to get it all out of my head and onto the page.

1. I have become a first-rate procrastinator on certain things: Chem homework, test studying and article-writing. I blame Andrew for this.

2. I have my first Microbiology test this week and EVERYONE is freaked out. There is a ton of material and while the best way for me to study is to re-write my notes, I couldn’t bring myself to make a study sheet. I think all my note-writing from last semester burned me out.

3. I have been playing WAY TOO MUCH and not doing enough studying. I mean, do I still do more than the average student? Maybe, but it’s not nearly enough to keep me comfortable with the material, which is stressing me out. Big time. I had such good intentions going into this semester–that I would keep up with Chem–and alll I’ve done is put everything off to do other things.

4. “Other things” have included baking, cleaning, blogging, cooking, baking, exercising, walking the dog and more baking. Ever since I discovered what I’d been doing wrong this whole time, I just want to bake! Bread! Muffins! Cookies! Oatmeal! Yes, baked oatmeal–I have a recipe on the fridge that’s calling my name.

5. So, let’s just say this week is already stressing me out (a Micro test, two Chem homeworks due, all Stats due…) and it’s only Tuesday morning.

6. Add to that a new responsibility with the co-op (sending monthly emails to our member-owners–exciting, but there is a learning curve involved and the timing was such that it’s a bit more rushed than normal), prep for another article for the paper, our new Bible study started last night and we’re having friends over for dinner Thursday night. Whew!

7. Oh, and Andrew’s truck wouldn’t start yesterday. It took me to the gym and back (thankfully!) but pooped out on Andrew when he was warming it up. A friend of his brought him home last night and they think they diagnosed the problem–the fuel pump. FANTASTIC. Fuel pumps are expensive, and whether it’s a DIY or professional job, it isn’t going to be finished today, or tomorrow probably. The fact that the Layers happen to have an extra vehicle for Andrew to borrow is nothing short of miraculous–the thought of having to add “carting Andrew to and from work” to my schedule this week would send me for a tailspin.

8. I think I might start swimming again. Like, swimming for real, on a team. I’ve always known about Master’s swim teams–they’re usually run through gyms and universities and are for the 18+ crowd–and always kind of thought I’d eventually end up on one. They attract former high-school and college swimmers and while not terribly competitive, can be pretty hard-core, depending on the ages and abilities of the group. I joined one, briefly, in Ohio just after getting into the Air Force and was FLOORED by how fast some of the people were (it was a pretty young crowd) and how out of shape I felt in comparison. I didn’t end up doing much with the team (the practice time didn’t work well with my schedule), but it always nagged at me that I was secretly relieved to not have to push myself. Well, I think I’m ripe for a workout change and after seeing a flier for the Master’s team forming at the Y, I’m excited at the prospect of doing more swimming. I swim once a week for 30 minutes and do 1 mile (a 1650, or 66 laps), but I get bored easily and don’t vary the routine a lot. Swimming is kind of like riding a bike; you don’t “lose” your ability, and age doesn’t really change your performance as long as you’re continuing to work out. OK, this is getting long. Bottom line: I think I’m going to join the team (yay!), but that means I have to re-work my whole schedule to fit it all in (running, swimming, weights and some yoga/pilates) while allowing time for school, studying and walking the dog, and being the most efficient use of time and driving, which is seriously stressing me out. Thankfully, I don’t have to figure it out this week.

9. I have now moved past the “Oh, I’ll just throw a quick post together before studying” into “Crap! I’m running out of time to study!” because blogging is a form of procrastination. But, I can’t study with a million thoughts running through my head, either.

10. As I said, we started a new Bible Study last night. I don’t have enough time to go into it right now (got to study!), but I’m excited (I went solo since Andrew was working on his car) and can’t wait for our taco night next Monday! For now, check out what we’re doing at 40 Days in the Word.

a list

1. I start school tomorrow. I’m uncharacteristically nonchalant about this. I’m prepared and ready to go back, but not nervous in the slightest. Have I, dare I say it, grown up?

2. I made a friend today! Actually, one of Andrew’s friends. Is that weird? One of Andrew’s friends from high school found me on Facebook, started reading my blog (yay!), then emailed me. We really hit it off and met for coffee today, then the BOGO shoe sale at the local running store. She and I are very similar (which makes sense, I suppose, since Andrew and she were good friends) and are looking forward to a dinner date with our respective spouses.

3. Speaking of running shoes… I bought two pairs for what I paid last summer in Carmel for one. Sheesh. Good running shoes, for me, are akin to air, water and peanut butter, so at the end of the day, I’ll pay a pretty penny if I have to. But, scoring a good deal for your pair of choice online isn’t always easy, so I was jazzed that the shoe sale today yielded another pair of my current style and a trail runner with support for me to wear in the snow. SWEET!

4. All I wanted to do this winter break was cook and bake, but with three trips in as many weeks, I didn’t exactly have the free time I’d anticipated. However, I’ve been making up for lost time these last couple days! I’ve made two loaves of sourdough, a giant batch of sourdough waffles to freeze, pumpkin granola, ham stock with the leftover Thanksgiving ham bone (destined for ham bone soup tomorrow), pumpkin-cranberry rolls and a menu for the week chock full of new recipes, to include cod and mung beans (not together). I. CANNOT. WAIT.

5. I made the best kale ever tonight–Andrew said it was a ‘Top 10,’ which is saying something since he’s so picky. It’s a recipe I replicated from something I got at Earth Fare this past week in Ohio. I’m blogging about kale this week for the co-op, so be sure to check it out there for my recipe!

6. I also made some great cauliflower (Andrew said “he’d eat it again”) tonight using a recipe a gal we met while in Canandaigua sent me. It’s a Cook’s Illustrated recipe. In terms of cauliflower, it was fantastic.

7. I was reading the Jan/Feb issue of Cooking Light on the elliptical this morning. Mistake. EVERYTHING in there is awesome. (Except that I can’t make half of it due to Andrew’s dislike of cheese.) Sad.

8. This month’s Cuisine at Home is also a winner. Between the two of them, I found recipes for Pad Thai and Tom Kha Gai soup–my two favorite things to order when we go out for Thai food.

9. I’m trying to figure out a new gym schedule for next semester that includes a yoga class… All the good ones are at times I’m unavailable! It’s either going at night (not my first choice) or cutting it close between the gym and class. Decisions, decisions.

10. There is a pair of boots I’ve been drooling over since before Christmas, and I’ve been itching to order them ever since. Theoretically, I have the fun money to do it, but after all Hadrian’s trips to the vet, our traveling (gas, food, Starbucks…), random impulse buys (ahem, the shoe sale and those $20 LOFT pants that fit like a glove), I feel like I need to keep waiting. Again, I ask, does this mean I’ve grown up? (No, probably not, since I’m also daydreaming about this awesome J.Crew dress I found to wear to not one, but TWO occasions this year…)

holiday recap

Finally! A sigh of relief can escape my lips after my whirlwind of a week…

1. I finished my last exam Tuesday morning and after a celebratory lunch and manicure, I immediately went into Christmas-prep hyperdrive. By that evening, presents had been mailed ($50 for three SMALL boxes–good grief!), Christmas photo taken and annual letter finalized and printed. Andrew and I tag-teamed at the table addressing and stuffing envelopes until our eyes gave out.

2. Christmas, in my house growing up, means Christmas cookies, but I knew my mom would be flying (she’s a flight attendant) until late Wednesday night, and probably wouldn’t have the time to make the spread of sweets she typically does (the woman is a chocolate-dipping machine at Christmas), so I brought some with me. I made two bags of white-chocolate dipped pretzel rods, two batches of those peanut-butter kiss cookies, some of those pre-decorated sugar cookies. The relief in her voice on the phone when I told her my plan was audible. I even did a special “Christmas Sweets” blog for the co-op; many of those yummy goodies appeared on our table this year, however, we never got around the the holly cookies! I’m still bummed…

3. This Christmas was very different from years past; almost all of my dad’s giant family came to visit, which brought the total number of people for me to see into the 50s. It was fantastic! We had a Christmas Eve bash at an aunt and uncle’s house who live in the DC-area as well, spent Christmas morning at home with another aunt, uncle and cousin who stayed with my parents, then moved to a banquet facility (owned by my mom’s brother) where BOTH sides of the family (my dad’s out-of-town relatives and mom’s in-town family) gathered for a potluck and to exchange some presents. Definitely not enough time socializing, but at least it was something.

4. I made a ginger pumpkin pie with toasted coconut and balsamic-glazed green beans, both from November’s Cooking Light. Both were well-received and I LOVED the pumpkin pie. Even my mom, who doesn’t really like pumpkin pie, liked the ginger version. I will definitely be making it again.

5. I’ve been calling this year ‘the year of the gloves.’ I ended up getting FOUR pairs of gloves, and it would have been five if the Dick’s in Virginia carried the running gloves I asked for. Get this–my mom went to get them and the salesman said it didn’t get cold enough there for them! Ha! However, as I’ve learned already, one can never have too many pairs of gloves here.

6. Which brings me to my next tid-bit: my cold-weather haul. Check out my new running gear and other winter apparel:

Andrew’s mom got me the beautiful white hat and gloves that I’ve been wearing EVERYWHERE, praying I don’t get dirty. Andrew found the black heavy-duty gloves for me to use to take the dog on walks since they have grippy stuff on the palm-side, and I totally scored the matching pink-and-black running gloves, hat and earband just yesterday at Dick’s on sale. Sweet! And the best part? The fleece hat even has a hole for your ponytail!

7. It was also the year of running stuff for me… My mom gifted me with LLBean sport sunglasses, a pink and blue earband and an awesome pink running top:

8. We kept the Christmas tradition of opening jammies on Christmas Eve alive (just barely–mom was going to skip it until the boys and I put up a stink, so we headed off that afternoon to find suitable outfits), except that the shirt I ordered for myself didn’t come on time…so sad! We found a stand-in at Old Navy, but nothing will beat this:

We found it at a local store weeks ago but it took FOREVER to come, so I’ll have to enjoy it post-Christmas.

9. Because of visiting family and our Christmas Eve party at my aunt and uncle’s house, we skipped another tradition: reading Luke and having a birthday cake for Jesus. I’m still a bit bummed about that one, too.

10. We left Monday evening and drove to Philly to visit with my sister. Along the way, we stopped for Geno’s cheesesteaks. (Andrew insisted–surprise, surprise)

Grossest cheesesteak EVER! We should have walked across the street to Pat’s, which is mildly better, but still not as good as Silvio’s, which is our hometown cheesesteak joint near my parents’ house there. They make their own bread, are take-out only and are THE BEST cheesesteaks in the world. I kid you not. I’m almost salivating writing this.

11. We stayed the night with my sister and FINALLY got to meet her daughter, Danika. Sweet girl!

We brought all their presents and goodies from Virginia, so we did our own Christmas morning with them. Danika is walking all over the place and starting to jibber-jabber as well. It was crazy to see a little “mini-Allison” toddling around!

12. We scooted out around lunchtime to meet two of my best girlfriends from college, Betsy and Leslie, at an upscale American place in Doylestown. Leslie’s husband, Christian (also a friend from college) came along as well, which was nice for Andrew.

We all, apparently, got the memo to wear shades of brown (and so did the wall behind us). It was such a great time exchanging gifts and catching up, but not nearly long enough (pretty much the theme of the whole trip). We try to get together at least once a year, which is surprisingly difficult given Betsy’s deployment schedule (she’s in the Air Force), Leslie’s work schedule, and now my school schedule. I’m just thankful Betsy’s parents only live a street away from my parents’ house (which is where my sister is currently living), so I can always combine a visit.

13. After lunch we made the drive home and I’m STILL recovering from being out of town… I’m in the midst of thank-you note writing, cleaning, gift returning/exchanging and holiday-sale shopping, as well as trying to get back into the gym routine and working on two articles for the Advertiser. Whew!

14. Stella has a new home… At Thanksgiving, my green-thumbed friend Emily gifted me with a clipping of her purple houseplant, Stella, and she’s been freezing to death in a jar of water on a windowsill in our kitchen ever since. (It’s not exactly the time to buy pots and things around here, or anywhere, for that matter…) When she really started to look poorly the other day I decided I had to do something. I bought the cheapest pot I could find at Lowe’s and threw in some potting soil. She joined Gerard (center) and Victor (or Vincent, I can’t remember), that was a gift from an aunt for Christmas. Cross your fingers for their survival!

Whew! Busy is the name of the game right now… I have lots more to share, so stay tuned!