This morning, I was going through my morning routine of email/coffee/Facebook, when I noticed something was going on with my lady friends. A lot of them were expressing, in their own ways, that they need a break. One talked about how tired she was, another about her children keeping her up late. A mom was jokingly beating herself up about skipping chores for a few days, and posted pictures for proof. I didn't have the heart to tell her that her 3 days of messy kitchen looked like mine does after cooking dinner for one night. But one comment in particular stuck with me. She's a fellow mom, and was responding to post of mine about how I can leave the room to get a drink of water, and come back to find vomit on the floor (true story). She said, in what I imagine was with a tired smile and a hefty dose of gallows humor, "Isn't it nice being so blasted important to the rotating of the planet?"
I totally got what she meant. As moms, we have a lot of things to juggle, and it can feel like it'll all fall apart if we disappear for a moment. But I took it a step further. I can't think of a woman who doesn't have a lot of responsibilities. Jobs, homes, families, chores, pets, volunteering, errands, balancing that checkbook, friends...we all deal with it. I'm not saying that men, in comparison, have it easy. They don't. But, speaking strictly for myself, I have a tendency to shelve my desire to take a break in order to let others have that break. If my Dude wants to go out and have a beer at the HSH bar with his soccer buddies, I'm going to let him because he works hard, and his hard work is what lets me stay home with the Little Dude. I have a sister with a full-time management job and 4 kids. If she needs me to babysit, I'm going to do it, because she probably needs a break worse than I do. I love doing these things for others, but I tend to do it until I snap. If I were to be proactive and build in some breaks for myself, I'd probably be so sweet and even tempered, people would wonder where the aliens took me.
While I am speaking for myself about my tendency to make myself last on the list, I'm willing to bet that there are a lot of women out there who would nod in agreement. Maybe it's that stereotypical urge for women to nurture. And that's why I'm here to encourage all of you women to start misbehaving! I don't mean you have to go out and recreate the plot to "The Hangover" in one night (but if you do, please send pictures. I'll post them.). I mean to take a little time to be...irresponsible. You can spend as much or as little as you like. Do it when it works best for you. Don't worry about your chores-trust me, those dishes will still be in the sink whenever you come back.
Ladies, find a way to indulge yourselves! Soak in the tub with a bowl full of ice cream. Go to the mall and shop, or even just window shop. Go for a run, a walk, a swim. Go to the library and tune in to your trashy side-get a Lady GaGa CD, borrow season 1 of Sex and the City (I'm such a Charlotte), find a bodice ripper and imagine Johnny Depp as the swashbuckling pirate captain that wins over the virtuous heroine. If you have to wait until after the kids are in bed, or the dog is fed, or the husband/boyfriend is happily killing every zombie Left 4 Dead can throw at him. Even just 20 minutes can do a world of good for you.
If you're really ambitious, try to set up a monthly date to get out of the house, either alone or with friends. One of the best times I've ever had was in a room full of strange women. I went to a local bookstore to see a presentation by Jill Connor Browne, the author of the "Sweet Potato Queen" books. She is hysterical, knows how to live, and will happily teach you all she knows. Almost all of the women there wore tiaras, or sashes, or their finest pageant gowns. I fit right in, and I was probably the youngest by about 10 years. But I came home so refreshed and happy, because I spent the evening in a room full of laughing people. If you want to get together with friends, give it a theme! Have a gaming night (B. and I are both part of a monthly euchre club, those ladies are awesomely fun!), a scrapbooking night, or a movie night. Take turns brining snacks and drinks, so no one bears all the financial burden. Start a book club. Try a new restaurant every month. There are so many options out there, you will find something that fits. I promise.
No matter what you decide, start it now. Plan ahead. Go solo, go with a friend, go with a group. Put that latest Candace Bushnell book on your reserve list at the library. Get a box of wine (classy!) and a bag of peanut M&Ms, tell the kids they can't come out of their rooms unless they're on fire, and start putting yourself first for a change. You deserve it. And if you happen to be dining at a little Greek restaurant tomorrow night, and you see two women laughing a little too loudly, it'll just be me and an old friend, taking some time for ourselves.
Showing posts with label indulge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label indulge. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
It Ain't Starbucks, But...
So, a few days ago I was in a bind. I seriously, desperately craved an iced coffee. In case you hadn't noticed, it was (still is) wickedly hot out. I'd tossed and turned the night before, and I was dragging. And the Little Dude was full of more energy than I could muster. Cold, non-carbonated caffeine seemed like the ideal solution. But, alas, there was a flaw in my plan to get my hands on a frappuccino-my car has been out of commission. So my options were slim-suck it up, or get creative.
So I made a base for iced coffee! It's great on the rocks, chilled in a pitcher, or blended with ice. And it was pretty simple! I made 10 cups of coffee to start. I used caramel flavored coffee, but you can use whatever you have on hand. I made mine a bit stronger, since I planned to drink it over ice. If you plan to blend it with ice, you'll definitely want it a bit stronger, to withstand the dilution. I let it sit in the carafe for a while, until it was cool enough to pour into my plastic pitcher. I then added about 3T of sweetened condensed milk to give it some creaminess. Again, use what you have on hand-milk, half and half, that bottle of flavored creamer languishing in the back of the fridge-and just add it based on your personal tastes. Then add some sweetener, use your favorite and sweeten to taste. I used somewhere between 3T and a 1/4 c. of sugar. Stir it all up, then either stick it in the fridge, or break out the ice. You can also add flavored syrups if you want, garnish it with whipped cream, or whatever blows your skirt up. Grab a straw, a fan, and enjoy a few minutes of cool indulgence!
So I made a base for iced coffee! It's great on the rocks, chilled in a pitcher, or blended with ice. And it was pretty simple! I made 10 cups of coffee to start. I used caramel flavored coffee, but you can use whatever you have on hand. I made mine a bit stronger, since I planned to drink it over ice. If you plan to blend it with ice, you'll definitely want it a bit stronger, to withstand the dilution. I let it sit in the carafe for a while, until it was cool enough to pour into my plastic pitcher. I then added about 3T of sweetened condensed milk to give it some creaminess. Again, use what you have on hand-milk, half and half, that bottle of flavored creamer languishing in the back of the fridge-and just add it based on your personal tastes. Then add some sweetener, use your favorite and sweeten to taste. I used somewhere between 3T and a 1/4 c. of sugar. Stir it all up, then either stick it in the fridge, or break out the ice. You can also add flavored syrups if you want, garnish it with whipped cream, or whatever blows your skirt up. Grab a straw, a fan, and enjoy a few minutes of cool indulgence!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
A Confession, Cheap Care, and Clean Carpets
It's an early, rainy, blessedly cool morning here. The Big Dude left for work, the Little Dude is still asleep, and it's just me, some coffee, the Cooking Channel (my new addiction-they have Julia and Nigella!), and the cat. So I'm going to take advantage of the quiet to plan out some cooking for the week, and my grocery list.
I do a kind of modified stockpiling-I don't have the room, or the desire, to have a fully stocked basement to last me through the zombie apocalypse. But I do like to know that I have a few jars of pasta sauce in the cabinet. So my rules are that I have to have room to store it, and I have to keep it organized so I know exactly what I have at a glance. The first rule was put into place when I first told the Big Dude I wanted to coupon and stock up on the cheap. He was for it, but he's been exposed to TLC's Extreme Couponing, so he needed reassurance that I wouldn't set up shelving in our living room. So food stays in the kitchen, and it's all hidden in cabinets. Bathroom supplies are either under the sink, or on a shelf in the linen closet. The closest I've come to "extreme" with the storage is putting Jeffrey's extra diapers and a couple of packs of TP under his crib. There's a skirt to hide it, so no one can tell it's there.
Here's my confession-the second rule, keep it organized so I can see it all in a glance, came about because I confused several bottles of body wash for shampoo and conditioner. Thinking that I only had a few bottles of body wash, and knowing that my goal was to stock us up for about 6 months, I bought more. I now have 15 bottles of body wash, which was a bit beyond my goal. It did make me feel kind of hoardish, but at least it's something we'll use, and it won't go bad in the meantime. But lesson learned-know your contents!
In the course of stocking my various shower supplies, I realized that I hate how expensive face wash, masks, and scrubs are. So I took to the internet for a cheap, natural solution. And I learned that baking soda is my friend! A simple face wash is 1 T. of honey and 1/2 T. of baking soda. Mix, apply to damp skin. The honey will both soothe and clean (it's antibacterial-who knew?), while the baking soda will exfoliate. I wouldn't recommend making a large batch, I just mix it in the palm of my hand. And if you want a moisturizing mask, combine 1 c. plain yogurt with 1/2 c. rolled (non-instant) oatmeal. Apply to your face, leave on for 15 minutes, rinse. No need to wash after, and it's safe for sensitive skin.
As far as body scrubs go, I'm super lazy and usually just rub in some baking soda straight. But if you want a more spa-like treatment, combine 1/4 c. oil (olive is what I tried), 1/8 c. coarse brown sugar, and 1/8 c. salt (kosher works well). You can add an essential oil if you wish, but take care to not let the essential oil get on your skin without it being combined in the scrub. Trust me, you don't want a swollen, peeling face because you got it on your fingers then scratched your chin. This could be made ahead and stored in a jar. If you have a sunburn, eczema, or other skin issues, leave out the salt and use 1/4 c. of the brown sugar.
Finally-today's Groupon has me all excited. It's carpet cleaning! Two rooms, a child's room, and a hallway, cleaned and stain treated, for $47! It's for the Columbus area only, but I'm totally getting this. It would clean and stain treat my entire apartment! It's good for purchase through Thursday, but don't let this one slip by.
I do a kind of modified stockpiling-I don't have the room, or the desire, to have a fully stocked basement to last me through the zombie apocalypse. But I do like to know that I have a few jars of pasta sauce in the cabinet. So my rules are that I have to have room to store it, and I have to keep it organized so I know exactly what I have at a glance. The first rule was put into place when I first told the Big Dude I wanted to coupon and stock up on the cheap. He was for it, but he's been exposed to TLC's Extreme Couponing, so he needed reassurance that I wouldn't set up shelving in our living room. So food stays in the kitchen, and it's all hidden in cabinets. Bathroom supplies are either under the sink, or on a shelf in the linen closet. The closest I've come to "extreme" with the storage is putting Jeffrey's extra diapers and a couple of packs of TP under his crib. There's a skirt to hide it, so no one can tell it's there.
Here's my confession-the second rule, keep it organized so I can see it all in a glance, came about because I confused several bottles of body wash for shampoo and conditioner. Thinking that I only had a few bottles of body wash, and knowing that my goal was to stock us up for about 6 months, I bought more. I now have 15 bottles of body wash, which was a bit beyond my goal. It did make me feel kind of hoardish, but at least it's something we'll use, and it won't go bad in the meantime. But lesson learned-know your contents!
In the course of stocking my various shower supplies, I realized that I hate how expensive face wash, masks, and scrubs are. So I took to the internet for a cheap, natural solution. And I learned that baking soda is my friend! A simple face wash is 1 T. of honey and 1/2 T. of baking soda. Mix, apply to damp skin. The honey will both soothe and clean (it's antibacterial-who knew?), while the baking soda will exfoliate. I wouldn't recommend making a large batch, I just mix it in the palm of my hand. And if you want a moisturizing mask, combine 1 c. plain yogurt with 1/2 c. rolled (non-instant) oatmeal. Apply to your face, leave on for 15 minutes, rinse. No need to wash after, and it's safe for sensitive skin.
As far as body scrubs go, I'm super lazy and usually just rub in some baking soda straight. But if you want a more spa-like treatment, combine 1/4 c. oil (olive is what I tried), 1/8 c. coarse brown sugar, and 1/8 c. salt (kosher works well). You can add an essential oil if you wish, but take care to not let the essential oil get on your skin without it being combined in the scrub. Trust me, you don't want a swollen, peeling face because you got it on your fingers then scratched your chin. This could be made ahead and stored in a jar. If you have a sunburn, eczema, or other skin issues, leave out the salt and use 1/4 c. of the brown sugar.
Finally-today's Groupon has me all excited. It's carpet cleaning! Two rooms, a child's room, and a hallway, cleaned and stain treated, for $47! It's for the Columbus area only, but I'm totally getting this. It would clean and stain treat my entire apartment! It's good for purchase through Thursday, but don't let this one slip by.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
A Sunday Tradition
This will be another photograph-free post, I'm afraid. My week got away from me again! I agreed to watch B.'s kids, as well as my sister's 4 girls, and had a pretty busy schedule besides that. And, to top it off, I spent today with some odd flu-like thing. Appetizing to think about, right?
Being all queasy and chilly meant that our weekly trip to the North Market didn't get to happen. My Dude, being the awesome guy that he is, did the market shopping by himself, brought me back egg salad on challah, and skipped soccer to stay home and make sure things stayed mellow. Fortunately, my stomach settled down in time for me to take part in the other half of our Sunday tradition: the preparing and consuming of the steaks.
It's serious business at our house. We get 2 filets from Bluescreek Farms (not only do they now know our order, they tend to prepare ours in advance and age them a little longer. It's seriously good enough to cry over.), baking potatoes from the Greener Grocer, and stop whatever we're doing to sit down as a couple and eat. It's the only night of the week that the Little Dude eats something different from us, and usually before we sit down. It doesn't stop him from coming back to mooch bites of steak and potato, either.
Our potatoes are pretty basic-wash them, stab them full of holes, rub with olive oil, pat on some kosher salt, and wrap them in foil. We bake them at 400 degrees for at least one hour. At the one hour mark, we start the steak, and the potatoes come out when the steaks are done.
For the steak, we've found a method of cooking that seems pretty foolproof to us. We let the steaks sit out to reach room temperature (we usually get them out and unwrap them when we put the potatoes in to bake.), and then season them with salt, pepper, and dill on both sides. We then cook them in a hot, dry skillet on medium heat. This part is important, either use an oven-safe skillet, or preheat a baking dish in the oven. Cook the steaks for 3 minutes on each side-if they seem to be getting a little too done for your liking, lower the heat a bit. After both sides have cooked, put them into the oven with the potatoes. We like our steaks pretty rare, so we let them bake for 5 minutes. If you want them cooked longer, add another minute or two to the oven time. We also check for doneness by gently pushing the tops of the steaks. Rare feels like pushing your cheek with a fingertip, medium feels like pushing the tip of your nose. If you want your filets well-done...I'm not sure how to advise you, because I consider a well-done steak to be about equal to chewing on a leather wallet. ;-)
Anyhoo, once the steaks are done, take them out of the oven and let them sit. I sometimes put a small pat of butter on each one, and let it melt. I think it gives a richer taste to the juices. While the steaks are resting, get your potatoes out and drop them on the counter. I mean that. Drop them a few times. Make sure you're dropping on different sides of the potato. They'll be ridiculously soft, and any butter or sour cream you add will melt and get into all the nooks and crannies. Top them as you wish-we like to use garlic butter, but whatever floats your boat!
These steaks will be juicy, flavorful, and out of this world good. I promise. Pair your steak and potato with some nice wine, a salad, some decadent dessert-it'll make any night special, and with a minimum amount of effort. And, as one-half of a couple with a kid, it definitely helps to take a little time out during the week to focus on your significant other, and enjoy time together.
Being all queasy and chilly meant that our weekly trip to the North Market didn't get to happen. My Dude, being the awesome guy that he is, did the market shopping by himself, brought me back egg salad on challah, and skipped soccer to stay home and make sure things stayed mellow. Fortunately, my stomach settled down in time for me to take part in the other half of our Sunday tradition: the preparing and consuming of the steaks.
It's serious business at our house. We get 2 filets from Bluescreek Farms (not only do they now know our order, they tend to prepare ours in advance and age them a little longer. It's seriously good enough to cry over.), baking potatoes from the Greener Grocer, and stop whatever we're doing to sit down as a couple and eat. It's the only night of the week that the Little Dude eats something different from us, and usually before we sit down. It doesn't stop him from coming back to mooch bites of steak and potato, either.
Our potatoes are pretty basic-wash them, stab them full of holes, rub with olive oil, pat on some kosher salt, and wrap them in foil. We bake them at 400 degrees for at least one hour. At the one hour mark, we start the steak, and the potatoes come out when the steaks are done.
For the steak, we've found a method of cooking that seems pretty foolproof to us. We let the steaks sit out to reach room temperature (we usually get them out and unwrap them when we put the potatoes in to bake.), and then season them with salt, pepper, and dill on both sides. We then cook them in a hot, dry skillet on medium heat. This part is important, either use an oven-safe skillet, or preheat a baking dish in the oven. Cook the steaks for 3 minutes on each side-if they seem to be getting a little too done for your liking, lower the heat a bit. After both sides have cooked, put them into the oven with the potatoes. We like our steaks pretty rare, so we let them bake for 5 minutes. If you want them cooked longer, add another minute or two to the oven time. We also check for doneness by gently pushing the tops of the steaks. Rare feels like pushing your cheek with a fingertip, medium feels like pushing the tip of your nose. If you want your filets well-done...I'm not sure how to advise you, because I consider a well-done steak to be about equal to chewing on a leather wallet. ;-)
Anyhoo, once the steaks are done, take them out of the oven and let them sit. I sometimes put a small pat of butter on each one, and let it melt. I think it gives a richer taste to the juices. While the steaks are resting, get your potatoes out and drop them on the counter. I mean that. Drop them a few times. Make sure you're dropping on different sides of the potato. They'll be ridiculously soft, and any butter or sour cream you add will melt and get into all the nooks and crannies. Top them as you wish-we like to use garlic butter, but whatever floats your boat!
These steaks will be juicy, flavorful, and out of this world good. I promise. Pair your steak and potato with some nice wine, a salad, some decadent dessert-it'll make any night special, and with a minimum amount of effort. And, as one-half of a couple with a kid, it definitely helps to take a little time out during the week to focus on your significant other, and enjoy time together.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Things I'm loving this week...
As inspired by B. and her pretty, peachy post, here’s today’s entry! Forgive the picture quality-they were taken by someone with zero skill, using an iPhone.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy
This was the event on Tuesday night that prompted me to abandon the blog to clean for the sitter. When the LotR movies first came out, I was part of a group known as the Ohio Ring Council. We were a nerdy lot, joined by a common love of dressing up as creatures with pointy ears. The group lasted for many years, but eventually fell apart as life got in the way. Just this past month, the films were re-released in their extended, director’s cut versions, for one night only. So, for the past 3 weeks, old friends have been reuniting to watch and reminisce. It brought the group back together, and breathed new life into old friendships.
Summery nail polish
My toes have been neglected for a shameful amount of time, but today they were scrubbed, buffed, lotioned, and polished in this pretty shade, just so I can wear my beloved flip-flops without shame. And trust me, I had plenty of reasons to feel shame. My feet are rather unlovely. Also, coupons.com has a printable coupon for $1 off a bottle of Sally Hansen polish-it’s a cheap way to treat yourself!
Goodies from Etsy
So, my sister is an awesome gift giver, and has blessed me with fantastic body scrub from Quintescentials (sadly, the shop is temporarily closed), this adorable family necklace with our names and birthstones from one9designs, and a series of British themed prints from papergangsterprints! She knows me well…as long as I have something shiny, have soft skin, and have a picture of a police-call box to stare at (hello, TARDIS!), I’m a happy girl!
Fireworks
B. and I got to see our first of the year at the Crew game last Sunday, and with this being 4th of July weekend, there’s lots more to come! Red, White, and Boom is tonight, but I’m not a sadist, so we’re skipping it in favor of smaller, local displays. We’re looking at Groveport’s Saturday night, and maybe Clintonville or Westerville on Sunday. It’ll be interesting to see how the Little Dude handles them!
Peach iced tea
This is probably a good time to mention that I am not being paid or compensated in any way for promoting these items. I buy them out of pocket because I love them. And I really, really love Revolution Tea! Flavors are phenomenal, and I don’t get the sensation that I brewed something that was mixed with sawdust. My absolute favorite, though, is to make iced tea with their Ginger Peach tea. It’s not summer without it! It’s a bit pricey, and I have to drive out of my way to buy it, but I do it because I love it. And I just found out that, on their website, Ginger Peach is 20% off!
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