That Was Stupid

Have you ever been blog-surfing along and found something interesting only to forget to bookmark it. Despite your searching, you can't find it again?

That's me today.

I'm embarrassed to tell you what exactly I found interesting but I truly hope that whoever's blog it was, is reading this post and will comment so I can go back.

I found a blog that was talking about a great high protein/fiber bean soup. She gave the recipe and I tried it today. It was DELICIOUS...yeah, bean soup. Who'd have guessed? I've been trying to greatly increase the amount of protein (and less fat) I'm taking in so this post was very interesting to me.

Here's the recipe in case anyone's interested (most of this is verbatim from this lady's blog - so sorry nice lady):

Bean & Hamburger Soup
1.5 pounds 90/10 ground beef
16 oz bag Goya 16 Bean Soup Mix
3 stalks celery
1 sweet onion
10 oz baby carrots
6 cups water

makes approx. 12 1+ cup servings

• soak beans overnight in 4 cups water, rinse
• chop celery and onion

• in a really big pot, combine beans, celery, onion, carrots, water, and crumble raw ground beef on top, cover, bring to boil, stir, simmer for 1+ hour or until beans are tender.

Probably the most impressive part of it all is the nutrition info. Granted, it’s not necessary to only eat a cup serving, but I just broke it down that way for ease of calculating the following nutrition figures:

Nutrition Info.
251 total calories
45 calories from fat
5g fat
2.25g saturated fat
35mg cholesterol
152mg sodium
220mg potassium
31g carbohydrates
16g fiber
4g sugar
20.5g protein

Personally, I added some more flavor to it: Spiced with about 5 garlic cloves, 1 very large onion, red cayenne pepper, about 3 tsp of salt, 1 tbsp chili pepper, 1 tbsp cilantro, and about 1 tbsp louisianna hot sauce.

Oh my! Not only did my house smell divine while this was cooking, it tasted so great! Not to mention how few carbs & how high in protein and fiber (low in fat) it was. I think it made enough to last for a week's worth of lunches!

Anyway, if whomever's blog this showed up on is reading this blog, I just wanted to thank you and let you know how I improved its flavor because you said it lacked in flavor just a bit. Thanks!

At Long Last

...I won't have to schlep my groggy head down the hallway bathroom in the middle of the night. My new toilet is installed! I know this news means nothing to you but you've no idea how my day is altogether brighter because of it!

It's a Peaceful Sunday Morning When...

Can't Get Over This Weather

On this day for the past three years, we have had our daughter's birthday party in our backyard. We usually spend the week prior getting the yard in shape and cleaned up. By this time, the pool's usually warm enough to "consider" swimming in, and it's usually so hot that sweaters have been relegated to the back of the closet.

This year, we did not have SP's party in our yard but instead are having it next Saturday at an actual party place, per her request. So we didn't have the clean-fest we normally do which is actually unfortunate. Since we do the party and spend so much time getting ready for it so early in the summer, it's done and we can spend the rest of the summer maintaining and enjoying.

But, since the weather hasn't been great AND no party, there's been no reason to push to get it all done and so, our garden wasn't even planted until today, nor most of the flower beds cleaned up and planted.

The front yard...well, you know the story but at least I got a lot done in the backyard today. I planted A LOT of perennials today so to avoid having to do a complete overhaul every Spring. I'm anxious now for next year to see what it will all look like from early Spring on. I think perennials are exciting!

Is Organization Hereditary

Or should I just be worried about OCD...

I Had A Bad Day

I actually had a bunch of emails yesterday (and/or comments) inquiring if yesterday's post was meant to refer to them.

Alright. I'm really sorry! I mean it!

That post actually wasn't meant toward anybody. It was a collective frustration that really wasn't even about that issue even. I mean, I was having a really bad day that was the culmination of a really weird weekend and I let my mind wander too much on poor, pitiful me.

Truth is folks, I have great friends. I have friends of every kind. Some call, some don't. Some write me letters, some text or send emails. Some I know well enough that I can talk to them once a year and it's totally cool - and some I live just houses away and don't often see...and that's cool too. It's all good because each of these relationships have their own "rules" or agreements. We know what's expected and we can be friends in whatever way we've chosen because well, because we're friends!

So, to each and everyone of them that worried about who I was referring to, I'm sorry. I'd be ungrateful if I were to be critical about any one of my friends' flaws because they certainly haven't been critical of mine.

Is It Just Me Or...

what?

Do you have a friend who just doesn't call you? Professes to be your great friend but then just will not pick up the phone?

And then you, on the other hand, possess lots of guilt for not calling them more (even if you're not that great at calling either). But the guilt is mainly because you realize that you don't talk to them much and then worry it's because you don't call them - only to figure out later that it's also due to the fact that they're not picking up the phone either?

You go through your caller ID and realize it's been like a month since they've even called your house?

And so...what do you do? Do you keep up the charade? Do you just accept the fact that you know they are your friend but just not good at making phone calls? Or do you just throw in the towel, realizing that the efforts you are making aren't being reciprocated and that effort is just making you bitter?

I've done both. But have never felt good about either decision. And am now faced with it again, and am sitting on the fence...maybe too long. What do you do?

A "Real" Haircut

I took scissors to SP's hair today and trimmed an inch off the bottom. But she was mad and of the opinion that short was the way to go. She said, "I want it short, like yours" as she took a chunk of my bangs in her fingers.

I tried to talk her out of it knowing that short hair is more work for me and she has little patience for a quick pony in the back anyway. But, she is on the cusp of 4 and perfectly capable of deciding how she wants her hair.

So we went to a new place in town that specializes in kids' cuts. It was cute and they did a great job. She seems so grown up with a true bob (doesn't she?). Good thing only last week we took some good pictures of her with her long hair. It was halfway down her back and beautiful.

I guess it's her hair, and short of dying it green and mohawking it, she can do as she pleases.