Garden Finds....

Confession Tuesdays

This is my new thing. Everyone's doing it! Heather from the EO has Suck Up Sunday's, Joolee from A Spot on the Sopha has The Thing about Thursdays, even Sensible of Shoe was doing Pink Saturdays (what happened to that?) So now I'm jumping on the band wagon and doing my own day of the week themed blog. This one will be titled Confession Tuesdays. I am not a priest, although i did almost go to Seminary last year, so feel free to fess up too.

My confession this week is:

I LOVE Kraft Easy Mac!!!!

I know, the horror!

Gourmet girl goes ghetto. (and she's not afraid to tell!)

Operation Baking Gals In the Mail!

A few weeks ago I wrote about a group of women I joined called Operation Baking Gals. I belong to a team of women who have been sending baked treats to some special troops overseas this past week. Today I made some Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from a recipe by my favorite baker, Dorie Greenspan. So off my cookies go along with some other treats, to some deserving soldiers across the world.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Where for art thou...

I finally was able to look at my blog and i looked at the date of my last entry and was surprised to see I hadn't blogged since Monday. Which is fine, but it's definitely been busy the last few days. I have become busy as busy gets at work. I am everywhere and nowhere, endless running from one wing of the building to another. Supervising movers, making really big decisions (not my strong suit) and finding time to say hello and chat with the cool teachers. I barely have time to catch my breath. This is so not typical of my job... usually i sit at my desk and do my totally boring exciting work. Today a teacher stopped me in the hall and said, WOW you are everywhere! How true. Looking for my Deer in the Works, (that is a reference to a Kurt Vonnegut story BTW, may he RIP). So if my blogging gets few and far between you will all now know why.
Last night i did go to the State Fair! Soo bummed i forgot my camera. I went with Shannon. We ate A LOT of food, walked through the midway, the barns and watched cloggers dance. It was nice and cool and not a lot of people. I am too tired to even write right now, so I apologize for my completely lame post. I wish i could share with you all the stuff going on in my personal life including crushes and long kisses good night. But alas i must go rest.

(I wonder how many people just read the second to the last sentence and said, WHAT! Did Sabrina and TC go out?!?!?!?)

Celebrate Good Times...

COME ON! Last night I had a little celebration of my own. I invited over all my favorite gal pals to celebrate! Celebrate What? Whatever you wanted to celebrate that's what. More importantly, I was surrounded by some of the bestest friends a girl could want or ask for. There were lots of laughs, good food, great outfits and even some "ammo" to liven up the party!
Thanks girls for making my day so happy and bright. I'm happy to be me.

Treats!

Sangria!

Kelly and Heather!
Ellen and ShannonMichelle, Sabro, Janine!
Lisa and Shannon

Mr. Marius!

See you in 2012

The Olympics are coming to an end. Now we will wait for another 4 years to see Olympics 2012 in London. Every night i turn the Olympics on. I cheer for my favs, I get supah dupah excited!

It has also been sweet seeing the sites of Beijing, where i could proudly say, I've been there! Forbidden City; Check! Summer Palace; Check! Great Wall; Check! Smog; check check check!

Even Marius got way into the Olympics, he cheered with the best of them. But in the critical moments right before Michael Phelps was swimming his last lap, Marius just couldn't handle the pressure. So he would look at me and giddily scream like a girl,

"I can't watch, I just can't watch!"

I know Marius, I know exactly how you feel.

Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes

I am at work. I can't concentrate. Again more changes. You know that feeling you get right before you go into something new? Like a new job, or big move, or a new relationship? That strange stomach thing that happens and that erratic racing of heart beats? I am feeling that way.
Not a bad thing. I just have a much anticipated next few days ahead of me. My job is going to be chaotic starting Monday. Everything at my job is up in the air. Not fun.
I don't like change, but I embrace it while it is happening. It's the before that makes me the most nervous. More nervous than the during or the after.
And this is a weekend of truly letting go and embracing what is ahead.
Most people who read this know that my ex boyfriend is getting married this weekend. I'm fine with that, really I am. I'm not just saying this to make myself feel better. I have had time to heal and grieve. It's a relationship that is very over. I wish him the best. But it has only been a little over a year since we broke up, and he is marrying someone else. It happened fast for him this time. I waited years with him to be ready. I thought i would even marry him. But I'm not, and I'm glad. Not because he is a bad person, but just because he wasn't the right person. Although it is an adjustment. For the years i was with him, I had planned my life with him, for the long haul. When it ended I felt lost. My life did a 180 and I had to quickly sink or swim. I chose swim. But even so, I still had years of memories, hopes and dreams with him I had to let go of. Even marriage. So as he marries another, I let it go, I continue to move on and I have never been happier. I hope no one pity's me or feels sorry for me. Be happy for me that I have a lifetime of good things to look forward to. Celebrate with me.

When I was going through the worst of it, i would read these verses over and over. Most of the time i would say, Will I ever be happy? Will I ever not cry?
It was hard to imagine a time when i wouldn't be sad. With time does come healing. God is in the sorrows and in the joys.

Psalm 126
When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed.
Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.
Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.