Some Random Things

I haven't posted anything in a while so I thought I would write a few quick blurbs about stuff...

Julie and Julia:

We rented this movie several weeks ago now and I wanted to write about how much I liked it. I really liked the first 3/4 of it and then the end wasn't so great, but it was still a good movie overall. The beginning half had me hooked, I could relate to the main character's life in some way. It was definitely cute - and it really made me want to go out and get the Julia Child's cookbook and start cooking all those yummy recipes! I doubt I will, but I definitely want to try one of the famous ones that she makes, like the Beef Bourguignon - maybe in next winter.  Anyway, if you haven't seen it, you should, it was good.

Also - I really like Meryl Streep for some reason, she is good.

Spring is almost here...I can feel it!

We've had a week or two with some slightly warmer days here in Chicago, several days in the 40's and even 50's and even a couple hitting the low 60's. I love spring here because everyone comes out of hiding from winter, people are walking around, riding bikes, enjoying being outside, walking their dogs, etc. I just hope it stays nice and that we have a nice long spring before it gets super hot and humid! I like my moderate temps, which is not what Chicago is known for...but hey...I take what I can get I guess. So far I've already enjoyed a couple long walks with the dogs at the park (long muddy walks, one bad thing about spring) and the other day I took a long walk across the loop (downtown) one evening when it was nice and in the upper 50's. It was so nice to walk around without burying my head in my coat and rushing inside as fast as possible. Ahhhh....spring.

Speaking of Mud...

I gave the dogs their summer hair cuts a little early this year. They were so shaggy that I was getting sick of having to practically give Louie a bath every time we came in from our walks. His furry belly and legs and feet would just be covered in mud splashes. I took some video and I will post it soon. They are both so different when they have short hair, its funny. The mud is definitely easier to wipe of the short hair. Yay!

Good Eats & Such

I love to cook, especially yummy dinners....so I had to write about this great new recipe I made for dinner this past Thursday night! I'm still drooling over it....

I started subscribing to Cooking Light Magazine a few months ago so that I could expand my recipe database of healthier recipes that aren't just the same old thing. We tend to eat a lot of salmon and veggies (lots of broccoli), chicken breasts, shrimp, etc. I could eat that all the time really, but its nice to find some great new recipes that are also healthy and more fun. So far I have found that this magazine has some great recipes. I have made a couple of them so far and they've been great.

So, Thursday night I made Maple and Soy-Glazed Flank Steak with Scallion Noodles from this month's issue. See the steak recipe HERE.  I really love Asian food but often I find it's hard to get good Asian recipes that satisfy that craving and taste as good as a restaurant when you make it yourself. This recipe has some great Asian flavors, it was SO good.
This was also the first time I made flank steak - a cut of steak known for being tough - but marinading and slicing it diagonally against the grain turns it into wonderfully tender slices! I will use this again for sure! The Scallion noodles were good too and really easy, rice noodles are so yummy and fast to prepare.  I was also excited to add another Asian staple to my pantry (sesame oil) and also use Sake for the first time in a dish (thanks to Trader Joe's for having a cheap bottle). It was a really great meal! I will definitely add it to my recipe rotation and make it again!  :-)

Also, just a note about "maple"...I am really not a fan of "maple" flavor...but I recently started buying REAL maple syrup instead of the fake crap with all the added sugar - aka "pancake syrup" - you know what I'm talking about. Who knew that stuff was not really maple syrup?! Hey, I'm not from Vermont...so shoot me.  Well, REAL maple syrup which comes in Grade A or B varieties (I bought grade A from Trader Joe's) is so different, much less sweet, and still really good on waffles, french toast, etc. So, that's what is used in this recipe and it's delish! Once all the ingredients were mixed in the marinade you wouldn't even know there was maple in it, it was a yummy Asian concoction that I could put on anything! yum~

The photo from the magazine is below. It shows the steak and the noodles that I made, I would have loved to make the Sesame Cucumbers also, but Joe thinks he doesn't like cucumbers, so I didn't make them. Yummy dinner all the same!

Happy Cooking!

Moving, Blog and Jobs (what else is new?)

Update on moving....
Joe and I decided to stay our current apartment for one more year. Even though we really wanted to move to a better place I think it will work out for the best and we will hopefully be back on track by next year so that we can move into a better place and get on with our lives. We do like our area and the apartment isn't the worst, so it wont be that bad to stick it out for one more year. Plus, moving right now would have been nearly impossible with our financial situation...not to mention finding a new place would be such an added stress that we don't need right now.

A note about my blog...
Obviously I know that this situation is not unique to Joe and me. I know there are SO many people/families/couples out there who are going through or have gone through the same thing that we are now. Lay-offs, hard times, and other troubles happen along the way in everyone's marriage/life....and if they don't you must be one really lucky person. I don't want anyone to think that I don't realize that. Our life together so far has been great, but I know its far from perfect. I know there will always be bumps in the road. What we are going through now is just one really large and long bump (more like mountain) that we are trying to get over. I know we can handle what comes our way, it may not be easy, but we can handle it.  So I guess what I am saying is, please know that when I write about the hard times, the frustrations, etc, I am not looking for pity, I am merely writing to get some of the thoughts out of my head and onto this 'paper'. I am not writing this to get attention or to make others feel sorry for me. To me it's the same as writing about the good times.  Right now there is an abundance of bad times, but I know eventually it will get better. Writing my feelings down has always helped me feel better, or at least get a grip on what I am feeling. And now, come to think of it, maybe several years from now I will look back and read these posts when things are better, or when they are even worse, who knows, but either way I will remember and learn from it.

Recent developments...
Until recently I was somewhat hopeful that I would be able to get back into design when things started picking up. Now, things are getting to the point where it's time to make a decision to get a job regardless of what it is. I am beginning to think that getting back into a firm anytime in the near future is pretty bleak. I need to get back to work, regardless of what it is. As much as it pains me to leave design behind and get another job, it is time.
Recently I started looking into other jobs online. I found one of interest with a Real Estate company who also has a leasing office/division. I interviewed on Monday but may have to go back for another interview. It definitely sounds like something I could do and may even be good at, but there is some negatives, like: commission only pay, lots of hours and working both Saturday and Sunday, possibly not being able to work out at my current place, which I LOVE.  As much as this sounds sort of bad I am hoping that they call me back for the second interview and I can get started working. I realize it will take time to start making any money, but the potential earnings (especially in the summer) are great (hopefully).
Also, just to preface this, I recently heard about a part-time design job that will be opening up because some women in the office are going on maternity leave. I called to inquire when I received the lead from a contact of mine and the woman explained that I would need to send in a TON of work samples along with my resume and cover letter and they would get back to me. I am going to do it, but this is the kind of thing I am talking about....due to the economy and probably hundreds of people applying for one job in design, it has become lots of jumping through hoops for only semi-decent jobs. I mean, this is a part-time job, probably paying next to nothing and they want me to send in practically my whole portfolio before they will consider me? Come on! One or two work samples is normal for a full-time job with a huge firm, but this is ridiculous. However, I am going to do it anyway, but it all just doesn't seem worth it to me anymore. Sad but true.

Anyway, I guess this is all for now. Today is a tough day because I am unsure of what will be happening with my unemployment benefits. This is why I am in a rush to get a  job now. I heard from my friend that due to working part-time during unemployment we are going to be essentially punished for it with lower unemployment checks....its a long story and I'm not sure exactly what's going to happen yet, but either way, it's time to move on.

9 Things You Can Give Up for Lent That Will Help the Environment

9 Things You Can Give Up for Lent That Will Help the Environment
Click the link above to see the article.
I am not usually one to "give up" things for Lent, but when I saw this article it gave me some great ideas!! I just hate the usual "I'm giving up candy and junk food" thing that everyone does, need something a little better than that for me.
Anyway, its a great little article and I am loving this site in general as well!
Enjoy!

Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines Day to everyone!

A very special Happy Valentines Day

to MY Valentine, Joe, I love you!