Updates on Life

Wow, I really haven't updated in a while. And what an interesting last post date. Let me try and catch you up.

July 9th we were in Alvin with Brad's family for his uncle's memorial service. This was Alan's sister's husband, whom I had never met and who had been sick a long time. It was a sad event, but tempered by relief at his peace. However, while we were all together, we found out that Alan's brother, Rick, died in New Orleans. It was rather shocking (to most of us), and put an odd air over the day. Thankfully, at least we were all there together to comfort one another.

July 10th Rick's granddaughter was born to Eddie, Rick's son that runs a restaurant outside NOLA.

July 10th is also when we found out I was pregnant.

Weird. Weekend.

So now there's a person growing in my uterus. I'm in the middle of week 13, if I have finally figured out the correct way to measure that stuff. Honestly, it confuses me more than is logical.

Lots of prayer requests on my mind lately, as well.
**My uncle Dennis (dad's brother) was diagnosed with prostate cancer. They caught it really early, and it isn't a "bad case", so most are really optimistic, though frightened.
**My friend Celynda is having thyroid surgery in the next few weeks. She's kinda bummed and kinda scared, so I hope she reaches some peace.
**GRAGS IS ENGAGED!!! She is getting married in March, I believe, which breaks my selfish heart because that's when I'm due so I can't gallivant to Dallas. She wasn't able to make it my wedding, either, so I'm super sad, as is Brad. But life goes on, and that day isn't really about us anyway...

That should be a pretty efficient, though brief, catch up. Wish me luck (AND PRAY FOR US) as baby (and mommy) grows. Yea, panel pants!

Wish List: More Nerd Shirts

I can't think of the last time I wanted a t-shirt so badly!
"No Power in the Verse Can Stop Me"


This one is also adorable. "Wash"


Another excellent choice. "I'm a Keeper"

Harry Potter is a'coming

Only 8 days until I get to watch the next and final Harry Potter film. How sad and amazing and wonderful! I've had this delightful earworm stuck in my head for two days now - lucky me. ;)

And just a few days after the movie I'm competing in a Harry Potter themed quiz called the Geeky Cauldron. I'm rallying my friends David and Erin to help me to victory (because they're awesome, and because Joanna and Grags don't live here). When we win we will get a cash prize of anywhere between $200 and $500, depending on how many people show up.

I'm rereading Deathly Hallows now, plus going through Harry: A History again. Then I'm going to read Tales of Beedle the Bard once more; I read it once a long time ago, so I need a refresher course. I've been to these GeeksWhoDrink quizzes- they don't mess around. These questions will be obscure and difficult. Bring it on!

Crafting: A Fine Line

I spend a lot of time reading craft/DIY blogs, especially (lately) party-planning idea sites. It is so fun to dream up these elaborate parties; see, in my dreams it is all paid for by someone else... le sigh. I find the most fascinating ideas for reusing and upcycling all kinds of around-the-house (and Dollar Store) items. I've started cleaning and collecting all jars we use (mostly pickles and marinara) and saving them for any number of uses. I also have a small stack in my cubicle of instant coffee tins, which I can use as favor boxes, tiny flower 'vases', or short centerpieces.

And this experience has got me thinking: where is the line between upcycling and hoarding?

Jars are easy enough to use: leftovers, serving drinks, hold flowers, bake pies - a plethora of options. I listed several possibilities for the tins, though I wonder how likely it is I will do any of that. Then there's the drawer in my "craft room" (slash library slash bar slash throw-crap-in-there room) no longer entirely full of empty toilet paper/paper towel rolls.

Yeah.

I threw away quite a few of them eventually, though I keep some in case I ever actually get around to this project or one like it. There are lots of options for this craft, but again, will I ever actually frakking do it?

I'm not even a serious crafter; not even slightly close. What must it look like at craft bloggers houses, in the dark recesses of their I-might-use-this-someday treasure troves? I'm all for reusing what we already have and utilizing the mundane for beauty and creativity, btu at what point does it just become an inability to throw out the trash?

Moonlight

I love the feeling of trying a new-to-you TV show, when you can't tell if it is horrible or amazing and you love it either way.

Oh, you don't ever feel that? I feel it all the time. Buffy the Vampire Slayer's comes to mind. It has such a strange vibe, but you listen to hundreds of people laud it so you push through. Suddenly that strange vibe is why you fall in love.

I was Netflix meandering this week, starting with Veronica Mars. Hmm, I wonder what else Jason Dohring ever did. Not much, it seems, but he worked on a show called Moonlight. It is about vampires - surprise - though specifically one who is a private investigator. Oh and he drinks blood from a vial and/or shoots it up like heroin: no people drinking. It isn't available on Instant so I ordered the disc, and last night I watched 2 episodes. It stars Sophia "I used to bang David Tennant" Myles. The story follows Mick St John (horrible name) played by Alex O'Loughlin whose IMDb history is a bit sad considering the *pretty*. And his best/oldest friend, 400-yr old Josef, is played by a blood-drinking version of Logan Echolls.

And I love it. Unashamedly.

There is only one season, so there is no danger of me wasting too much time on it, but I absolutely love it. The plots are predictable, the effects moderate, the use of music somewhat laughable-- but who cares? I wonder how cheap I could find it on Amazon...

Homemade Taquitos - Do It

Yesterday was a rough day. While I sat eating my lunch sandwich with mom, dad called to say their house was broken into. Again. Ugh. So we tell our respective managers and head home. They didn't take much stuff, but they took all of mom's jewelry (except for a bolo tie that was her father's - I love that thing). So it was very emotional for her.

I went home, changed into jammies and got back to work. Putting on your pjs at 2pm is basically admitting defeat for productivity (at least to me), so I skipped the gym. And for dinner I wanted nothing more than a small roll of sushi. Nothing to cook or heat up, just lift chopsticks to mouth. I already had the ingredients for dinner, though, and I couldn't waste them.

I am so glad I cooked. Heavens To Mergatroid, these were delicious!

I found this recipe through Pink Parsley, who apparently adapted it from Pennies on a Platter, who got it from Our Best Bites. So essentially it was recipe telephone (or as I call it, Recipe Purple Monkey Dishwasher). I don't care where it comes from, it is DELISH! And extremely easy, especially if you happen to have leftover cooked chicken already.

Here is my adaptation:
Creamy Baked Chicken Taquitos

3 oz cream cheese, softened (reduced fat is fine)
1/3 cup salsa verde
juice of 1/2 a lime
1 tsp chile powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
apprx 3 drops cayenne sauce
2 tsps minced garlic
2 cups cooked and shredded chicken *
1 cup shredded colby jack cheese
8-12 (6-inch) corn tortillas
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
cooking spray

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese with the salsa, lime juice, and all of the spices. Fold in the chicken and cheese. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if necessary.

Working 3 tortillas at a time, stack them on a microwave-safe plate and cover with plastic wrap. Cook 20 seconds, or until tortillas are soft and pliable.

Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of filling onto the lower third of each tortilla, and roll tightly. Place seam side-down on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.

Spray the taquitos lightly with cooking spray, sprinkle with salt. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until the tortillas are crisp and golden-brown. Serve with avocado and corn salsa or guacamole.


*This is how I prepare my chicken if I don't have leftover chicken to use: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spread a piece of aluminum foil across a baking sheet, and arrange chicken breasts in a single layer in the center. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and season as you wish. Fold the aluminum foil over the chicken breasts, and enclose them to form a "packet." Bake the chicken (on the baking sheet) 35-45 minutes, or until it is cooked through.


**To freeze, prepare the taquitos, but before baking, place the baking sheet in the refrigerator until the taquitos are completely cold. Wrap each taquito in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and freeze. To bake, unwrap the taquitos and cook in a 425 degree oven for 20 minutes (no need to thaw first).

To be fair, I didn't measure any of my spices; I rarely do. And I used pre-made salsa verde, but Pink Parsley has a recipe, in case you would rather make it as well.

These are very simple and delicious, as well as very adaptable. I recommend you make them soon. I cooked double the necessray chciken, so I have some leftover in the fridge. I discovered (via snacking while cooking, a constant crime of mine) that the mixture makes a great dip as well. I forsee Friday lunch being tasty and familiar...

Wish List: "Good Cause" Edition

I hope I don't get any flack for putting good cause in quotes: I don't mean to suggest it isn't a good cause, merely that me buying myself an awesome shirt would be more selfish than altruistic.

The proceeds from these shirts, based on multiple fandoms, go towards the "FckH8" campaign to fight Proposition 8 (for those of you living under a rock, that is an anti-gay-marriage campaign). I just love them. When I scrolled over the design I got a close-up of the text, so just trust me that these are shirts.

Some Time Agents Marry Office Boys


Some Doctors Marry Big Blue Boxes


Some Doctors Marry Romans and Gingers