The K Chronicles

Week 22

2012-02-09T10:27:00.000-08:00

Week 22 (taken this morning)

Jon got to feel Baby H kick last night. I might have teared up a little.

Week 21

2012-02-08T12:00:00.000-08:00

Week 21 (taken last Friday)

We're getting close to committing to a name.
The nursery is (very) slowly, but surely coming along.
Jon gave me a pedicure last week, as it's getting harder and harder to reach my feet.
I have actually outgrown a few pieces of maternity clothing. I didn't know that was possible.

I had my first hormonal meltdown. I had this realization of just how big I am and how much bigger I'm going to get and that there is nothing I can do about it for the next four months. I'm trying to enjoy the baby bump, but it's difficult to come to terms with rapid weight gain.

The fact that I ate a lot of doughnuts this morning sure doesn't help...

Week 20

2012-01-28T14:03:00.000-08:00

Week 20

Official weigh in: 11 lbs gained
Morning sickness: Officially gone

2012-01-26T09:43:00.001-08:00

Baby Hunt is a baby BOY!

2012-01-24T16:32:00.000-08:00

Less than 24 hours from now, we'll know whether or not we're having a boy or a girl! Any guesses?

Also, I'm happy to announce that I have gone an entire week without throwing up. Apparently 20 weeks is the magic number for me! Only 8 weeks after I thought I'd be over the morning sickness.

I'll update more tomorrow - hopefully with an ultrasound picture :)

19 Weeks

2012-01-23T08:18:00.000-08:00

19 Weeks (and 2 days)

Our ultrasound appointment got canceled last week thanks to Snowmageddon 2012. It's been rescheduled for this Wednesday, so YAY for knowing the sex of our baby in two short days.

18 Weeks

2012-01-12T15:20:00.000-08:00

Week 17 (taken last Thursday)

Week 18 (taken last night)

It's crazy how much of a difference 6 days makes.

Jon and I started on the nursery last weekend. And by started I mean we have begun the tedious process of cleaning out the office and getting it ready to be painted and then eventually decorated. Although I did buy a crib already, so I'll have to find a creative place to store it until it can be assembled in the baby room.

We find out the sex in less than a week!

And to answer the standard "how are you feeling" question that I am now officially sick of... I'm feeling fine. My hips and back hurt, and I still throw up sometimes. However, I don't want to sleep every minute of every day, so I consider that a win. But honestly, I don't think it's possible to feel great during pregnancy. My body is growing like crazy, I have to pee all the time, I can feel the baby moving around which feels like a combination between an itch and a tickle and sometimes a jab, and it's really hard to sleep. But of course I'm so looking forward to actually giving birth and being done with the pregnant lady part and moving on to the being a mom part.

And in the meantime, I'm trying to enjoy every minute of my alone time with Jon.

17 Weeks

2012-01-05T12:28:00.000-08:00

I'm 17 weeks along today. I forgot to take a picture this morning - hopefully I'll remember later today.

So for an update on how things are going...

My nausea is finally starting to subside. I'm still throwing up 2-3 mornings a week, but I'll take that over 2-3 times a day.

As of my last doctor's appointment, I've gained a total of 7 pounds, which is more or less right on schedule. I feel like I've gained 30, and scared of what 30 extra pounds will actually feel like.

I'm definitely tired and sleeping has been a challenge. My hips and lower back are hurting every night, and since I can't sleep on my stomach or side, my sleeping options have been pretty limited. I might try out our various guest beds over the next few nights to see if there is a better mattress in our house. I can't take the hip pain for another 23 weeks!

Jon and I are finding out the sex of our baby in less than two weeks. The 18th of January is when our ultrasound is scheduled - so I'm pretty excited. Once we know the sex, we'll get to choose a name, register, start on our nursery, etc. The baby items we got at Christmas were the first baby things we've brought into our house, we haven't even cleaned out the room we will be using as a nursery, and our name discussions have been non-existent (well, that's not entirely true. We have middle names picked out). I think we've both been stalling because we didn't want to make any decisions without knowing our baby's gender. So needless to say, I'm really looking forward to knowing.

Kristin

16 Weeks

2012-01-03T10:44:00.001-08:00

Belly Update: Week 16 (taken last Thursday)

15 Weeks

2011-12-21T15:58:00.000-08:00

Belly Update: 14 weeks and 5 days (taken yesterday)

14 Weeks

2011-12-14T15:20:00.000-08:00

I'm 13 weeks and 6 days along today.
My belly is no longer easy to hide.

Photographic Evidence

Yesterday I had the nuchal translucency ultrasound screening done. Basically, they're checking for signs of Down Syndrome in the baby. My results came back normal!

The best part of the screening was getting to see my baby again. The worst part was that the ultrasound was an hour and a half long! The tech couldn't get the baby to move into the right position, so she kept poking and pushing on my belly. Then she made me walk laps around the floor of the hospital, do toe touches, crunches, etc., to try and get the baby to move. By the time our appointment was over, I was sore and exhausted!

Baby Hunt

My nausea hasn't let up yet. I'm not sick all day like I was, but I've still been throwing up every morning. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that it ends soon! At least I have my appetite back (and then some).

My next appointment is the first week of January, and at the end of January we'll get to learn the sex of our baby (although we MAY already know, thanks to our very immodest child and a chatty ultrasound tech).

2011-12-05T10:06:00.001-08:00

Jon and I are having a baby! I'm due on 6-14-12.

For those of you who are my friend on Facebook, this is super old news. I wrote about it like THREE days ago. However, for those who aren't Facebook fanatics, this blog deserves an announcement as well. Especially because I will be writing here about how everything is going.

Today I'm 12 weeks and 4 days along. Everyone keeps telling me that the sickness typically goes away around week 12 - and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it ends for me soon. I started getting nauseous at the beginning of week 6, and it hasn't let up yet. Thankfully, I've avoided puking in public restrooms and embarrassing places but ugh, I'll be so happy if I go the rest of my life without ever throwing up again.

The average weight gain during the first trimester is 5 lbs, and I'm three days away from my second trimester and I've gained 2 lbs. I think the nausea probably has a lot to do with that, because I swear I've been eating constantly. I currently own two pairs of pants that fit, and just this morning I cut the elastic waist out of my leggings so I can wear them a bit longer. My belly isn't showing a ton, but tight clothes or really the feeling of anything touching my stomach makes me feel sick.

I'm heading out of town this week for a conference down in Portland. While I'm really looking forward to this conference (I had a great time last year!), I'm nervous to be away from Jon for 4 days. He's been invaluable the last several months - and it will definitely be a challenge to be on my own without his support for several days.

Until next time...

2011-11-28T10:51:00.001-08:00

I haven't tried this yet - but I have every intention of doing so ASAP.

Pumpkin Bread Pudding

Nom nom nom.

The Hunger Games

2011-11-14T09:19:00.001-08:00

I know I've said this already, but The Hunger Games series was by far the best book series I've read in years. The trailer for the movie was just released, and let me just say... it looks EPIC. I can't wait!

Halloween

2011-11-01T12:24:00.001-07:00

2011-11-01T12:20:00.001-07:00

The bummer about going to the beach for Thanksgiving is that I'll be too far away from all the Black Friday sales. Not that I love getting trampled and/or waiting in hour long lines, but I do love the amazing deals on movies :)

2011-10-12T16:49:00.001-07:00

I just bought my first iPhone.
It's supposed to arrive in the mail next week.

Can't wait :)

Summer Book Recommendations

2011-08-31T12:46:00.000-07:00

Since I finished school, I've read 15 books...I've had a lot to catch up on!

So I thought I'd write a quick post about some of my favorites. I can't promise these are high quality novels - more like summer beach reads. But I just spent the last three years getting smart, so I needed to dumb it down a little.

With that said, in no particular order (ok except for The Hunger Games, GO READ IT NOW!!!!), some books you should read:

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

Groundswell, by Katie Lee

The Opposite of Me, by Sarah Pekkanen

Girl in Translation, by Jean Kwok

Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood, by Eileen Cook

2011-08-30T08:58:00.000-07:00

It's too bad that I can't skip work to read. I'm in the middle of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and it's getting quite good.

Chopped Broccoli Salad

2011-08-24T18:38:00.000-07:00

Just made this salad - it was AMAZING. Super easy, filling, and delicious!

Chopped Broccoli Salad
3 cups broccoli, finely chopped
1 ½ cups of carrots, diced
1 apple, diced
9 strips of bacon, cooked and diced (you can omit the bacon if you don't have it)
3 green onions, diced (I actually used sweet yellow onions, so if you don't have green, yellow or white or red will be fine)
3 tablespoons olive oil
2-3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard
1 teaspoon dill
Black pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients together and serve!!

Originally found HERE.

2011-08-17T12:22:00.001-07:00

My last set of grades were posted today.
My degree will be conferred by the end of the week.

Graduation GPA = 3.878

Feeling pretty good about it.

2011-08-10T08:25:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is my last day of grad school! Yippeeeee!!!!

Tonight, I have to write an annotated bibliography, a short reflection paper, and buy some candy for my presentation tomorrow. I think I can handle it.

Then tomorrow.... I'm getting a massage, going out for drinks with friends, giving my last grad school presentation EVER, and then I'm opening the celebratory bottle of champagne that has been sitting in my fridge for the last month! And then Friday, Jon and I are leaving for a nice long vacation. Woo!

2011-08-04T14:30:00.000-07:00

One week from today I will be done with graduate school.
ONE WEEK! ONE WEEK! ONE WEEK!

I can't wait. I also can't seem to get my homework done.

2011-07-25T12:01:00.001-07:00

17 days!

So close.

2011-07-21T08:16:00.000-07:00

Have I ever told you that my husband is obsessed with space? Specifically, space travel and NASA.
Oh yes.

This morning, he woke up at 2am just so he could watch Atlantis land.

And he thinks going to Space Camp would be too nerdy.

2011-07-18T17:00:00.001-07:00

24 days until I'm done forever!

2011-07-14T13:12:00.001-07:00

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale starts tomorrow :)

2011-07-08T12:39:00.001-07:00

34 Days

2011-06-24T12:15:00.001-07:00

In the last month, I've found THREE grey hairs on my head.
One for each year of grad school.

48 days.

Adieu

2011-06-18T14:40:00.000-07:00

Welp... this is it.

Jon and I are giving our cats up today. We found a really sweet couple to adopt them, and in less than an hour we'll be driving Nox and Roscoe to their new home.

After several years of frequently getting sick, I finally got my allergies tested. As it turns out, I'm severely allergic to cats (and dogs and pollen and mold). Removing the cats from our home is the best way for me to keep my symptoms under control, and honestly, its just not worth being sick for the next 14 years so I can keep cute kitties around.

It's a little bittersweet, but I know we made the right decision to give them away. It is a little weird knowing that we'll never have animals in our home again (besides maybe a fish), but I'm happy with our decision. Just a little sad to see our adorable cats go.

Now I'll only have Jon to cuddle with while watching TV or reading a book.

Hell yes.

2011-06-14T08:45:00.000-07:00

I commenced on Sunday.
My official last day of graduate school is August 11th - 58 days from today.

I can't wait to have my life back.

2011-05-23T13:01:00.000-07:00

I bought a coloring book and colored pencils this weekend.
And not just any colored pencils. I bought the Crayola 24 pack.

I don't know what your school supply shopping was like as a kid, but my mom never let me buy the big packs of crayons or colored pencils. She thought it was excessive. And I agree, as a kid you really don't need to lug a giant pack of pens/pencils/crayons/etc around.

HOWEVER...

It was pretty damn exciting to color with red, red-orange, orange, yellow-orange, peach, yellow, golden yellow, jade green, yellow-green, green, aqua-green, light blue, sky blue, blue, violet, pink, magenta, mahogany, tan, light brown, brown, gray, black and white.

2011-05-16T16:03:00.001-07:00

86 days until I am officially done with grad school.
Maybe my blog will get more exciting after that.
Maybe.

2011-04-03T14:30:00.000-07:00

One week until vacation!

Jon and I will be heading down to California, to beautiful Palm Desert. I can't wait for the sunshine, relaxation, and tons of reading!

2011-03-30T12:44:00.001-07:00

I just ate a sour apple Laffy Taffy.
I am ashamed.

2011-03-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

To visit the original post, go here.

Almost two years ago, I wrote a post about my "vacation diet," all the foods I avoid eating on a regular basis but enjoy without guilt while on vacation. Looking at it now, I'm a little sad to realize most of my favorite vacation foods are now on my "do not eat" list since they are full of dairy.

Here's the list from my post...

Diet Coke
~~White Cheddar Cheez-Its~~
Churros
~~York Peppermint Patties~~
~~My Aunt Lori's Fudge~~
French Fries
~~Carrots with Ranch Dip~~
~~Buffalo Blue Kettle Chips~~
~~Coffee Cake~~
~~Caramel Corn~~
~~Chocolate Milk~~
~~Doughnuts, especially ones with the sour cream glaze.~~

Of that whole list... the only things I can still eat are diet coke, churros, and french fries. And carrots minus the ranch dips.

Since I'm leaving for vacation again in 19 days... I started thinking about what would be on my new and improved list of favorite vacation food. So for all of you dying to know :) Here it is!

Diet Coke
Kettle Corn (Jolly Time brand)
Trader Joes semi-sweet chocolate chips
BBQ Kettle Chips
Chicken strips and French fries
Haribo gummy frogs or gummy bears
Mighty-O Doughnuts (ok, not really vacation food since they're only located in Seattle and it would be impractical to travel with a box of doughnuts on the plane)

Can't wait!

2011-03-22T10:06:00.000-07:00

I'm leaving for Palm Desert in 19 days. Whoop whoop.

2011-03-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

Jon: How is your paper coming along?
Me: Oh fine. I'm half way done.
Jon: That means you still have five pages to write.
Me: I know. It's not due until tomorrow.
Jon: Maybe you should drink some coffee.
Me: No, I'm tired. And besides, I'm not in college anymore. I need to go to bed.
Jon: You ARE still in college.
Me: Oh yeah.

2011-03-15T17:08:00.001-07:00

Beer helps me write, right?

2011-02-22T20:41:00.001-08:00

I just registered for spring quarter.

Only one more quarter after that. My remaining credits just dropped in to the single digits!

2011-02-12T14:22:00.000-08:00

Feeling a little sad today.

Blake died last night.

I didn't think it would be so hard to lose a dog, but somehow it feels much more tragic than when Panda was put down last year. I don't have much to say, just... sadness. I'm feeling much more appreciative of my cats today.

2011-02-03T09:50:00.000-08:00

I'm taking my comprehensive exams on Saturday. I'm starting to feel adequately prepared. However, the task of summarizing three years of knowledge into a four hour exam is slightly daunting.

Once I'm done with the exams, I'll be one step closer to completing my degree. Only two quarters left, then I get my life back.

2011-01-18T08:12:00.000-08:00

Teaching my first workshop tonight. Well, not really my first - but the first one I've done solo. Unfortunately, my audience is a bunch of administrators who are getting their principal certification from SPU. Tough crowd.

Wish me luck.

2011-01-08T12:31:00.000-08:00

I wonder what I'll have to write about when I finish my degree...

Also, the Seahawks vs. Saints playoff game is today. Even though the Seahawks are (probably) going to lose, I still have a bottle of champagne on-hand just in case there is a reason to celebrate.

I'm also trying to not waste food. So today I made spinach dip, spinach lasagna, and spinach quiche. Now lets hope we can eat all of those items...

2011-01-03T16:22:00.001-08:00

Classes start again on Wednesday.
Only a few more months of madness left.

I just finished reading I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. I loved the movie. I loved the book.

2010-12-19T21:12:00.001-08:00

Oh also... I got back from Disneyland and our trip was AWESOME.

Also, I have now been married for 3 years. Which is pretty awesome as well.

2010-12-19T21:11:00.001-08:00

I got a 4.0 this quarter.
Whoop whoop!

2010-12-05T16:54:00.000-08:00

I'm wrapping up the quarter tomorrow. Just one last paper to finish writing and turn in... then I have nothing to worry about except finishing Christmas shopping, packing for Disneyland, and the many Christmas parties coming up in the next few weeks.

I am beyond excited for our trip to California. The longest trip Jon and I have ever taken with just the two of us was our honeymoon, which was only four days long. This time, we're taking a whole week off :) I always love doing something special at the end of the quarter to reconnect after a long and crappy time of never seeing each other for more than an hour or two at a time. This will be our best trip yet! Plus, I LOVE DISNEYLAND and I've never been there during Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

2010-11-22T13:13:00.001-08:00

It's snowing here in Seattle.
So much so that SPU closed for the day.
One of the many benefits of working in Education :)

2010-11-09T21:45:00.000-08:00

Things I've Learned Because of Grad School....

1.) APA: It's much more complicated than I ever thought possible, and yet somehow it is now drilled into my brain.
2.) I'm lactose intolerant: If it wasn't for all of those late night lattes to help me power through class, it might have taken me years to figure it out.
3.) Just because someone is earning their Masters degree, doesn't mean they're smart. Seriously. If you don't think you're smart enough for graduate school, you're wrong.

That's all for now.

2010-10-29T15:05:00.001-07:00

Happy birthday to ME!

Things that have changed my life...

2010-10-19T07:10:00.001-07:00

-God
-The CatGenie

2010-10-18T13:03:00.000-07:00

Lunch today:
-Beef Stew
-Carrots
-Gobstoppers
-Diet Coke

It's definitely getting close to Halloween!

2010-10-17T10:03:00.000-07:00

This weekend has been lame.

Jon and I have both been working overtime - although I have actually gotten to enjoy my weekend. Jon on the other hand, wrapped up this week with 65 hours under his belt - and he's at the office again today.

I'm fully immersed in the quarter now, with four weeks down and seven more to go. Then I'll have three weeks of freedom in December, and the rest of the year will be a full blown sprint towards graduation.

Since Jon's at work today (with the car), I've been cleaning like crazy. Our house has been falling apart the last couple weeks, since most nights neither one of us is home before 10pm. I got out my fall tablecloth, put a wreath up, and have generally trying to make our place feel a little more homey. It's hard when there's no budget for house decorations, and no time to get creative with what we have.

We're taking a mini-vacation at the end of October to try and recover from this awful month. It's nice to have something to look forward to.

2010-10-05T19:53:00.001-07:00

Only 9 months of school left.

And then you may call me Master Kristin.

Yippee!

2010-10-05T19:27:00.000-07:00

It's my birthday month!

2010-09-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I'm heading up to Lopez Island for an overnight retreat with my office. I guess that's one of the benefits to working on an all-female staff.

I'm feeling a bit nervous though. I'm still the new girl, and spending 36 hours straight in a small cabin on a small island is a little intense. Hopefully it all goes well...

Buh bye!

2010-09-10T10:58:00.000-07:00

This is my cat, Panda.
I got him for my birthday when I was in Kindergarten.
He is 19 years old.

Today, my parents are putting him down.
Buh bye Panda. You had a good run.

2010-08-31T09:33:00.000-07:00

Over the last few weeks...
I went camping at Belfair State Park with family and friends.
I wrapped up summer quarter with a 3.9 gpa.
I went back to work.
I visited my family and helped out at Packed with Love.
I painted our dining and living room.
I hiked on Mt. Rainier.
I deep cleaned my house.

With the crazy amount of rain falling today, it truly feels like summer is over.

2010-08-11T16:32:00.000-07:00

So YESTERDAY I had the brilliant idea of taking my cats to the vet, by myself. Not a big deal, right? You just stick them in the carrier and off you go...

Ha. Ha. Ha.

How foolish of me.

My cats tore through not one, but TWO cat carriers (one on the way in, one of the way home.) Wanna know what else they tore? My freaking SHOULDER muscle! Apparently I should not try to carry 21.5 lbs of insane, crazy, devil cats.

The doctor told me the pain should get worse in the next few days before it gets better. Good thing it's finals week. Good thing I'm going camping on Friday. I'm also running a fever, apparently from my body responding to the pain.

Anyone want a pair of cats?

2010-08-10T10:48:00.001-07:00

Note to self: Never try to take the devil cats to the vet on your own.

2010-08-10T08:48:00.000-07:00

Last night I had a dream that I was on my way to class, and my old boss saw me on campus and dragged me into the office to make me work. Apparently everyone had called in sick and she was desperate for coverage. I told her that I didn't have access to the computers anymore, and I had a final to get to, but she refused to let me leave. And then she wouldn't let me work since I didn't have access anymore. So I had to sit in the conference room and just wait until the work day was over.

Worst dream ever.

2010-08-06T09:17:00.000-07:00

Jon and I are on vacation this week.
Sadly, I've spent a lot of it doing homework.

Right now, Jon is at home, probably playing video games and eating Coco Puffs.
I'm stuck at Starbucks writing a research paper on sexual orientation change efforts and how utterly bogus they are. At least the APA agrees with me.

2010-08-04T16:14:00.001-07:00

Heading into my second round of finals this summer. Stress...

2010-07-30T23:17:00.000-07:00

I'm in Portland this weekend for some family bonding time.

I think it's the first time I've been down here without Jon since we've been married.
But it's really good to just hang out with my parents and brother, with no agenda and no responsibilities.

I miss seeing them on a regular basis.

2010-07-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Jon and I had a garage sale.
We decided it would be short and sweet, and anything unsold would be going straight to Salvation Army.
We were open from 9am until 2pm, and made $150. Nothing impressive, but it felt so good to get rid of all the CRAP that has been piled in our garage since we moved into this house.

Normally, when we earn or are given money outside of our regular income, it goes straight into savings.
However, we've been living on a super tight budget for the last year. So we decided to be reckless with the money we made from the garage sale.

Since we don't have much of an entertainment budget this summer, we bought a boat. There is a lake right by our house, and now we have hours upon hours of FREE entertainment.

Behold.

The boat

And of course, life vests

On Wednesday night, we packed a "picnic" (read: beer and chips) and floated around the lake to eat dinner and talk about our day. It was amazingly peaceful and fun. I can't wait to go out again this weekend!

2010-07-16T11:45:00.000-07:00

If you're wondering what the best part of my day has been thus far, look no further. (Thanks Monica!)

2010-07-09T19:49:00.001-07:00

Diving into my first round of finals week for the summer.
Bummer about summer sessions... more than one finals week.

I did 8 hours of homework today, and I still have many, many more ahead of me.

2010-07-02T07:54:00.000-07:00

Everything is official at my new job. I moved in to my office yesterday.

This morning, I'm doing some frantic paper writing before my brother gets here and we leave to catch the ferry for our weekend camping adventure. It's supposed to be in the low 60's and raining all weekend, so by "camping adventure" I mean weekend of doom.

But I will be with my family, so perhaps that will make up for the awful weather.

2010-06-28T08:38:00.000-07:00

After living in our house for over a year, we finally hung a picture on our bedroom wall. I had to document the occasion.

We also bought a new chair, as we were both tired of sitting on the floor to put on our shoes and socks. Jon's first comment?... "I hate myself for saying this, but I think we need a throw pillow."

2010-06-25T22:55:00.001-07:00

I'm done.

It feels surreal. I really am quite attached to my co-workers. I wish I could take them with me.

2010-06-25T09:20:00.001-07:00

Today is the big day!

Only 6 hours left...

2010-06-24T12:38:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is my last day at SU.

It feels bittersweet. I've made a lot of good friends here the past two years, and it's going to be really hard to leave them behind. I haven't spent a ton of time with my co-workers outside of work, just the occasional happy hour/birthday/wedding/etc.., but I hope now I can make a more consious effort to see them.

I really value the relationships I have built here, and I don't want to let them fall apart just because I'm not around every day!

2010-06-24T12:36:00.001-07:00

Ooh, now Leavenworth is supposed to be sunny with a high of 79. It just keeps getting better!

2010-06-23T12:21:00.000-07:00

Jon and I are heading to Leavenworth on Saturday. Why you ask?

Leavenworth's forecast....
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.

Mill Creek's forecast...
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67.

What would YOU do?

I can't stand this weather any longer. In case you think I am being dramatic (never!), this is the longest cold streak Seattle has EVER had! It has been 270 days since the temperature last reached 75 degrees.

So yes, I am getting in my car at 8am on a Saturday to drive 106 miles in search of sun.

2010-06-16T11:18:00.000-07:00

It feels like fall.

It is 50 degrees here in beautiful Washington.
And raining.

Did I mention that it's cold and raining?

Jon and I turned the heat on yesterday.
The HEAT. In our house. In JUNE.
This is utterly ridiculous.

I am bitter. And I just wanted to share that with you.

2010-06-13T21:23:00.000-07:00

I knew today was going to be bad. Yesterday, I only did fun and relaxing things in hopes of feeling like I'd had a real weekend, and not just one day off. But alas, I'm utterly exhausted at 9:20, and the general weekend consensus is that the bad of working today outweighed the good of playing yesterday.

Bummer.

2010-06-11T13:12:00.001-07:00

Confession: I went back to Plum Bistro today.

I had the apple cinnamon bread pudding with pineapple ice cream. AMAZING.

2010-06-10T15:50:00.000-07:00

A co-worker and I went to Plum Bistro, a vegan restaurant in Seattle, for lunch today.

Oh goodness, it was TASTY.

Now, by no means am I a vegan. However, vegan food is 100% dairy-free, which makes it one of the easiest ways for me to eat out without having to ask about every single ingredient in every single dish! From what I've found, most restaurants have maybe one vegan item on the menu, but if they DO have a vegan item, regardless of whether or not it sounds appealing to me, I order it to avoid getting sick.

To go to a resturant where I could order EVERY SINGLE ITEM ON THE MENU was so wonderful! And my fried tempeh, avocado, carmelized onion, cilantro, and chipotle mayo sandwich on rye bread was kick-ass.

If only I knew about this place sooner, I might have reconsidered leaving SU.

(Bwahaha, just kidding. But I'll definitely be back! I didn't get to try out their dessert menu!)

2010-06-07T12:43:00.000-07:00

4 weeks until my first full week at SPU.
3 weeks until my last day at SU.
2 weeks until my first day of class.

And only 6 weeks until a full MONTH of freedom! (and class, and household projects, but NO WORK!)

2010-06-01T11:11:00.000-07:00

Jon and I spent the weekend at The Cabin with my brother and grandparents.

I can't remember the last time it was just us. I usually only see my grandparents on holidays when the whole family is there.

It was quiet, relaxing, and FUN.

I'm looking forward to going back soon.

2010-05-28T11:17:00.000-07:00

Jon and I are spending the weekend at the cabin.

I'm excited to see my grandparents and brother.
Jon is excited that our cabin is located 73 miles from the Deschutes Brewery.

2010-05-25T09:58:00.000-07:00

Goal weight #1 appeared on the scale this morning.

When Jon and I got married, I weighed 148 lbs.
Today when I stepped on the scale, I saw significantly lower numbers. 18 lbs lower...

It's only taken me two and a half years to get to this point.
My end goal is yet to be met. But I'm feeling good, and motivated.

2010-05-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day of my last full week at SU.
Next week, I start my new job part-time.

I am not yet feeling overwhelmed with any particular emotions, though I am excited to start this new adventure.

I've definitely been taking an academic approach while preparing for my new job. I've been reading several books about advising and counseling skills, watching a few videos (specifically from the APA), and also reviewing some resume and cover letter writing handbooks. I've also been meeting with people from my program and around campus who have experience working in career counseling. I know I will learn so much once I start working, but I might as well learn as much as I can beforehand as well.

Part-time Trophy Wife

2010-05-21T12:33:00.000-07:00

I don't know if I mentioned this, but my new job is only four days a week... with a full month off every summer.

I still can't quite comprehend what life will be like without a five day work week. I will have a three day weekend, every weekend. I will have time to do homework while Jon is at work. I can go grocery shopping during the day when the only people in the store are stay-at-home parents with their young kids, and senior citizens (and perhaps the occasional trophy wife.) I can take a yoga class at the gym. I can go to the DOL without taking time off work. I can make it to the Post Office before it closes! And in the winter, I can be home while it's light outside.

There is a whole world of people who do what they want during the weekdays, and I get to join them, even if it's only for one day a week. I am unbelievably excited. And of course, Jon is insanely jealous.

2010-05-20T11:42:00.000-07:00

I love weekends.

But sadly, my weekends for the next month are all spoken for.

I hope I have time to clean my house.

The harder I work the luckier I get...

2010-05-17T12:04:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting over a week to post about this, but now that the cat is officially out of the bag, I feel comfortable sharing the news!

I got a new job.

Starting July 1st, I'll be working in the Center for Career and Calling at Seattle Pacific University. My new title is "Employer Relations & Technology Manager," and my main job functions will include working with companies and students to coordinate internships, basic career counseling (resume critiques, cover letter writing help, etc), some guest teaching, as well as managing the online job boards and website for the office.

I'm really excited about this new position. I honestly didn't think I would end up back at SPU so soon, but I knew I was ready for a more challenging role, and I literally stumbled upon this job. I'm still pinching myself a little bit, wondering how I got so lucky!

SPU is a fantastic place to work, and I'm grateful to get such an amazing opportunity there.

I'll keep you posted once I start training.

2010-05-14T16:29:00.000-07:00

This week is FINALLY over.

It was a doozy.

Maybe we can work it out...

2010-05-11T10:38:00.000-07:00

I am embarrassed to admit this, as it only adds to my ever expanding old lady credentials, but I LOVE doing workout videos.

Netflix "Watch It Now" has a ton of great Pilates workouts, and they are perfect for those nights when I'm too tired/cold/lazy/etc to go to the gym, but still want to move.

Recently, I've started doing the Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred DVD. As annoying as she is, the workout is amazing and it's only 20 minutes long! I've definitely been seeing results - and if I just mute the video and turn on some music, it's perfect.

Anyways, I've still been losing some weight and working hard to eat balanced meals - It's hard to get enough protein without being able to eat cheese, yogurt, milk, etc! At this point, I'm only 2 lbs away from the weight listed on my drivers license (which I have never actually weighed, at least not since I've lived in WA, heh heh), so I'm pretty happy about that. All those super lame workout videos are starting to pay off :)

Eccobase

2010-05-10T11:34:00.000-07:00

My best friend Ciara is an amazing artist.
She even went to art school.

Now she's a stay-at-home mama, and putting her skills to good use making these awesome tote bags!

Her brand is called Eccobase and you can find her products on Etsy.

All of her bags are hand sewn, hand painted, hand appliqued... you get the point. They're made from scratch. And made well! She's also using all eco-friendly materials.

So if you're looking for a sweet present or a fun summery bag, check out her Etsy site.

PS - How awesome are the details on this bag? She SEWED that! By HAND!

The Counter

2010-05-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

I'm going to The Counter tonight for dinner.
I've never been.
I'm excited to be able to build myself a delicious, dairy-free burger.
Nom nom nom.

Has anyone else been there before? What did you think?

A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony, in a moment

2010-05-05T19:55:00.000-07:00

Jon gave me a "thinking of you" present today.

Behold...

...yeah, he's that awesome.

2010-05-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

After a wonderful five day break, I went back to work today.

It's a little sad being back in the office, but the last five days have been a big blur of not enough sleep, too much sleep, too much tv, not enough movement, too hot, too cold, too many drugs, not enough drugs, etc.

It's nice to be back in a routine.

2010-05-01T20:13:00.001-07:00

Jon's surgery went well.

We're home from the hospital now, and just trying to keep him comfortable.

2010-04-28T20:07:00.000-07:00

Jon is having surgery on Friday morning.

Of course I'm super nervous, but it's a routine procedure.

I'm taking three days off to take care of him. And thankfully, his mom is coming up for the surgery and staying at our house for a few days after. I don't do super well with blood, or really sickness in general, so I'm REALLY glad she's going to be here to help out and keep me company.

If you're thinking about me in the next couple days, I'd appreciate some prayers or good thoughts sent Jon's way.

2010-04-24T22:45:00.000-07:00

Jon and I just got back from seeing The Losers.

It was less than impressive. But still enjoyable.

Banana Bread

2010-04-23T11:26:00.000-07:00

Last night, I made the most amazing banana bread I have ever tasted.

It's incredibly moist, flavorful, and not to mention healthy and dairy-free :) Even Jon liked it, and normally, if something I bake is missing butter and white flour, he hates it. This time, I'll have to hide the rest of the loaf so I can at least have one more piece.

Banana Bread
Original recipe found HERE

3-4 very ripe bananas
¾ cup brown sugar, packed

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1½ cups whole wheat flour

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon powdered ginger
¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
½ cup toasted sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

In a medium bowl, mash bananas. Add all other ingredients and mix well (I used my KitchenAid).

Pour batter into an oiled and lightly floured loaf pan. Bake 1 hour.

Nutrition Info (about 12 slices per loaf):

Calories 202.7
Total Fat 7.6 g
Sodium 309.8 mg
Total Carbohydrate 37.2 g
Dietary Fiber 3.1 g
Sugars 22.2 g
Protein 3.8 g

To put the healthyness in to perspective, a slice of banana bread from Starbucks (which tastes almost EXACTLY the same) is 390 calories!

(And Ciara, if you're interested, each slice is 4 points)

2010-04-22T16:01:00.000-07:00

It's been a month since I stopped eating dairy. I've lost 5 pounds.

One would think the weight is coming off because I'm not eating cheese, cookies, bagels, candy etc. But I know the real reason I've been losing weight...

NO MORE SUGARY CEREAL.

Somehow soy milk on cereal just isn't as satisfying. And 99% of my favorite cereals have dairy in them. So I've been without... and left with things like toast, oranges and apples w/peanut butter for breakfast and dessert.

No real complaints here... it's just a bummer to have a limited pant selection again. Of course this time it's because they're all falling off my butt.

Life is just so hard :)

2010-04-22T07:32:00.000-07:00

Jon has been really busy with work lately.

It's 7:30 on Thursday morning, and he's already put in 32 hours this week. He's been working at least 2-3 hours from home every night. Since we don't get home until 6:00pm anyways, putting in another 3 hours means getting home, eating dinner, working, and then going straight to bed.

I got to work this morning at 6:30 because Jon has a deadline at 10:00 and other one at the end of the day. We commute together, so I didn't have many other options. Sadly, most of my job is reactive to the work of other people, so it's not like I can get a jump start on my day by being here at 6:30am.

So I've been sitting at my desk reading The Grapes of Wrath, which is surprisingly good.

2010-04-21T10:08:00.000-07:00

All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. - Ernest Hemmingway

It's been 100 years since Mark Twain (ie-Samuel Langhorne Clemens) died on April 21, 1910 at the age of 74.

And children and adults all over the world are still reading his work.