Almost there

One of my goals for 2011 was to read 25 books.  I made this goal over the summer when I realized that I was over halfway there!  I just finished book #22 yesterday, and I am in the process of deciding what to read next.  My mother-in-law is an avid reader as well, and when I last saw her, she gave me a stack of books.  I have only read one, and it is mostly due to the fact that they are not on my Kindle.  To say that I have completely converted to e-books is pretty much true.  I love being able to read at the gym, and the Kindle makes that possible.  I don't have to keep fixing the pages every time the fan blows in the direction of my machine.  In fact, 11 out of the 22 books I read this year were e-books.  I have completely stopped purchasing real books, but I will still borrow books from others or from the library.  If all e-books were free, then I would rely solely on them.

So to accomplish my goal, I need to read 3 books in 2 months.  Can I do it?  I think so, but I suspect that one book will be read once Christmas vacation comes.  It will be down to the wire.  If we happen to have a placement before then, I will likely have to abandon my goal.  Since there is no indication of that happening, I think I will take care of business.  I love reading too much not to.  I am already contemplating what my 2012 reading goal will be.

25 in 2011 is even more impressive to me because I have also been writing more.  Between my journal and my 2 blogs, I usually end up reading or writing every day.  That makes me very happy.  I love reading and writing more than I enjoy watching TV so I am glad that I have been able to balance my free time more evenly.  Plus, a good book is usually the only way that I am able to stay on the elliptical for 45 minutes.  Being so close to my goal, I want to make my last 3 books really count.  Maybe I will read a holiday-themed book since I love Christmas so much.

Possible Titles for the Final Three:
Snow Day, Billy Coffey
Last Summer of You and Me, Ann Brashares
Oxygen, Carol Willa Cassella
Creative Journal Writing: The Art and Heart of Reflection, Stephanie Dowrick
Something by one of my favorites: Wally Lamb, Augusten Burroughs, Laurie Halse Anderson, BJ Daniels

Super Simple French Onion Soup

This is my mom's recipe, and I am so glad she shared it with me.  This soup is one of my favorites, but it is SO expensive in restaurants. I am not sure why, to be honest, because it is very easy to make.


Ingredients:


4 cups thinly sliced sweet onions(I used white)
1/4 cup buttter
1 TBSP. of minced garlic (more or less, depending on how garlicky you like it)
2 packages Lipton Onion soup mix
8 cups of water
bread french/rye (I didn't have any, so I used Triscuits)
cheese to top (I used fat-free mozzarella)


In large saucepan, cook onions and garlic in butter until onions are golden brown. Make soup according to package, then add cooked onions.  Toast or add stale bread to individual bowls. Pour soup over.Top with cheese.


In progress:

   Finished product:

First Snow

People have been complaining about it being "only the end of October" and yet it snowed today.  I have long given up on getting worked up over the weather.  In fact, I embrace weather.  The sun is nice and all, but I much prefer precipitation.  I feel like it is life's way of saying "take it easy!"  Plus, I live in upstate NY, of course we will get snow!  I know this snow won't stick, but when it does, that will be fine with me.

Many good things come with snow:
* sledding
* snow days
* no more yard work
* everything looks pretty
* snow days
*hot cocoa
* snuggling up in a blanket
* snow days
* Christmas
* how quiet everything seems

I could go on, but my point is that we cannot control the weather anymore than we can control life.  Since we can't do anything about it, we may as well enjoy it.  Dave and I get rather excited when there is a winter storm warning. While I would have liked fall to last a bit longer than it did, I refuse to complain. Winter has charms of her own, and I will enjoy them as they are rather lovely.

Cool Article

Thanks to my sister Amanda, I am now loving a great new magazine called Whole Living.   It is about living and eating healthily, but often has other juicy info.  I loved this small article so I thought I'd share it with you.

10 Thoughts on Whole Living


1.  A meal shared with family and friends sustains you in more ways than one.

2.  Gratitude cannot always change circumstances, but it can help you see beyond  them.

3.  With rejection comes decision: You can either turn back or find a new way forward.

4.  Feeling restless may be a sign that you haven't sat still long enough.

5.  Stop seeing life as a problem to be solved and, instead, as a mystery to be enjoyed.

6.  Sometimes you have to travel to a new place to rediscover the old you.

7.  To make the best use of your intuition, think less and listen more.

8.  Give above and beyond what you think will help.

9.  Rather than worry about how your body should look, focus on how you want it to feel.

10.  Virtuous and delicious aren't mutually exclusive; the most nourishing foods can also be the most delightful.

Quotes about writing

As I am in this writing-intensive period of my life, I have been searching for quotes from other writers for inspiration. Enjoy!


A great writer reveals the truth even when he or she does not wish to. ~ Tom Bissell


Writing is both mask and unveiling. ~ E.B. White


The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say.  ~Anaïs Nin


The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.  ~Sylvia Plath


I love writing.  I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions.  ~James Michener

Writing is my time machine, takes me to the precise time and place I belong.  ~Jeb Dickerson


It is impossible to discourage the real writers - they don't give a damn what you say, they're going to write.  ~Sinclair Lewis


A writer is somebody for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.  ~Thomas Mann


Writing is the only profession where no one considers you ridiculous if you earn no money.~ Jules Renard

What's in a name?

Considering the amount of time we have been waiting to become a family of 3, I have had plenty of time to contemplate names! Here are my favorite names. (Disclaimer: Dave's list would be different!)

Girl's Names:
Ellie
Poppy
Harper
Kendall
Kendra
Olivia
Corina
Emily
Kate
Eliza
Cecilia
Audrey
Sophia

Boy's Names:
Andrew
Logan
Felix
Ethan
Nolan
Lane
Joseph
Lucas
Jude
Cameron
Oliver
Jack
Henry
Garrison
Gavin
Owen

When are you coming sweet baby?

Columbus Day

Yesterday was a day that felt more like summer than fall.  We took the dogs downtown for a walk, and it was lovely.  I really love Saratoga.  It is quaint and has so many unique shops.  I love walking around and just being a part of it.  It is so wonderful after track season, much quieter.  You can drive down Broadway in under 20 minutes!  The park was more crowded than usual, but on a day like today, I am not surprised.  It seems like everyone wants to enjoy every nice day as if it is our last.  Considering how quickly winter comes upon us, I'd say we all did the right thing! :-)

Something is wrong with me...

I have already started Christmas shopping, am contemplating our Christmas card, and am thinking about our annual Christmas party. It is October 7th.
Oh, I also checked out when the first day of Christmas vacation is, and mine is one day earlier than Dave's! :-)

My Big 30!

What a whirlwind birthday weekend it has been!  The day started out slowly with calls from my parents and Nan.  Dave made waffles for breakfast before we headed out to the Farmer's Market and the gym.  We cleaned up the house before we went to dinner.  Before we got to leave, Dave surprised me with a pendant with my initial from Tiffany's!!

I was so surprised and happy. Little did I know that a much bigger surprise was yet to come!  We arrived at Limoncello, and there was a party for me!  Mom, Dad, Pat, Gary, Jess, Josh, Amanda, Beth, Mike, John and Jenn were all there to celebrate with us.  How everyone, especially Dave, managed to pull this off is beyond me!  It was a great way to start my 30th year.  I am so lucky to have such a wonderful husband, family and friends.  I was truly overwhelmed by it all.  

I did receive 2 other awesome gifts:

Here's hoping for the 2012 season!

Birthday Eve

9/23/11
It's the eve of my big birthday, and I am feeling good.  I have much to be thankful for, and that is what I am choosing to focus on.  I have a wonderful husband who loves me.  We have 2 dogs that bring us so much joy.  We are healthy and happy.  While this summer marked our 3 year wedding anniversary, it has also been 3 years since my lymph node surgery.  Finding out that it wasn't cancer was life-altering.  It has given me a more positive outlook on life.  Fewer things seem like a big deal.  It has been challenging at times, but I really try not to sweat the small stuff. And let's face it, compared to cancer, it is ALL small stuff!!

So, about turning 30 and not being a mom...I won't lie and say that it hasn't been on my mind this week, but I am really trying to trust in God's timing.  In many ways, a child would be the icing on an already amazing cake.  For this weekend, I will focus on all that I have to be thankful for.  One of my favorite quotes from Carrie Bradshaw sums it up: "Why do we let the thing we don't have affect how we feel about all the things we do have?" When I start to feel down, I remember this question.  My life at 29 years and 364 days is fabulous. 

I have been writing...

but I haven't had the time to publish. The next few entries are ones I have written in the last few weeks so they are still current and relevant :-)

9/20/11
Home is...
the life we have together. Two people, who were strangers almost 7 years ago, have built a strong foundation.  Home is the place we come back to after being out there.  It is safe, it is loving, it is the essence of us.  It is Sundays on the couch.  It is fetch in the yard.  It is board games and cards and homemade pizza.  It is reading in bed.  It is laughing and teasing and chasing the dogs and each other around.  It is sit and roll over.  It is I Love You, Goodnight.  It is I'd do it all over again in a heart beat.  I would, and I do.

9/20/11
"The best things in life may be discovered on a detour." ~Snowday by Billy Coffey
Becoming a teacher was a huge detour, yet one of the best roads I have ever followed.  It was more than a choice, almost a calling.  It was one of those moments when everything just seemed to fit.  The world made sense.  I finally felt like I was doing what I was put on this earth to do.  Everyday I am challenged to be patient, to be compassionate, to be caring.  One of the greatest joys in my life are my students.  Watching them learn and grow is so gratifying.  While some take a long time to come around, they usually do.  I feel likeI too am growing as I work with them.  I am utterly amazed at the resilience I have witnessed in spite of very difficult situations.  It gives me hope.  I came upon a great quote (paraphrased) that has stayed with me: teachers are focused on teaching kids how to be that they forget that they already are.   I strive to find a balance between appreciating them for who they are while challenging them to grow.  I took the road less traveled, and it has made all the difference.