Decisions, decisions...

Today is 10.10.10... a memorable day in Cincinnati sports. The Reds and The Bengals both played downtown today, both lost. The Reds, who made it to the playoffs for the first time in 15 years, are now out. But... the weather was gorgeous! ... and, at church the beginning of a new journey. I am really excited about it. My pastor said "Crossroads is at a crossroads" .... I couldn't help but think, and Greta is at a crossroads.

Decisions, decisions... I have decisions to make.

See this summer I smelled change. I knew that Doug and I were going to have to make some new decisions to financially prepare for our future. Transition was a 'comin. We new it, we felt it. Secret be told, I thought he would begin looking for a new position. That was until my position ended.

Decisions...

I updated my resume, created an online portfolio, and began connecting and seeking interviews. Thank God that this year I was the recipient of the INA Nanny of the Year award. It was that extra little title that had people calling me in a hurry. All the while, another opportunity began to form. Something I was not seeking but seemed to find me.

I am open to God's leading, but, everyday my mind changes.

When I was about 20, I dated my first love who adopted a word to describe me..."fickle". I had a hard time trusting him and yet cared for him very much. I definitely did teeter back and forth, but always proclaimed that I wasn't fickle -- the word drove me crazy. It is not a word I hear people say often, in fact I don't think that I have heard it since.

Decisions...

So on a lighter note, I have been wanting a new work bag.  A few months ago, while I was employed,  I bought one that I thought I loved. I returned it after a week. I figured out that it's value to me was far below the price tag. So since then, I have been looking for a replacement, and a good deal. Last week at TJ Maxx -the best place to buy bags- I found a few that I really liked. I walked around, bags on my shoulders and arms, thinking and looking, and finally narrowed down my search. These two were my favorites...

The orange was fun, bright, strong, and daring. 

The blue was safe, simple, cozy, and classic. 

I knew what I liked; I liked them both. Either would be a good choice that I would be happy with. But which was the right choice? I found myself asking out loud "why am I so fickle?!" The word! I hadn't heard it in years and years and there it was. Fickle. Ewww!! Getting over the shock of what had come out of my own mouth, I wondered ...why am I so indecisive? It is just a bag. I can always return it. Uhhhh! I exhaled and took a break to look at shoes. (I also tweeted pictures, asking for some help from some of my most trusted gals.)

After a few minutes, I was taken from my silly purse fiasco to the REAL decision I haven't been able to make. I thought about how much my two choices resembled my bags. One is daring... a job that is unexpected, unsought, and yet may be really fun and exciting. The other classic... the road I have been traveling, a great road....something safe and "right".

My thoughts turned to prayers and not about the bag. Would God speak to a person at TJMaxx? The answer is yes. I came to a realization as I shopped that there is no decision that is going to make or break me. I get so worked up sometimes about doing the RIGHT thing. Sometimes the wrong thing just may be the right thing. (Do you follow?) I often worry about letting people down. I worry about not being faithful. That is some baggage God doesn't intend me to carry. Now in the accessories department, I was taken back to the picture God gave me in my mind at Last Weds Service a week before. Rather than look all around and make a logical, practical decision... based on all the details that are stressing me out, I was simply to look up. Metaphoric that HE is so far above and beyond my human trappings. My life's decisions cannot always be made by weighing everything perfectly or creating pro and con lists. That is because my life is not my own. I live to please God and carry out whatever purpose he calls me to. And that will bring peace and fulfillment.  God has never been unfaithful. In fact even when we are faithless, he still remains faithful, for he cannot go against his own character (2 Tim. 2:13). Oh, how silly I feel being reminded of something I already knew. 

But, once again, what a relief. I do not have to fear. He is walking with me. 

So one decision was made.... (with receipt in hand, just in case.) 

Another is still to be made. I could use your prayers as I move forward, not that I will make to RIGHT decision, but that I will follow God's leading.  I know that this crossroad is approaching.

My First Cooking Class!

My First Cooking Class

When we were dating Doug and I made a deal.... if we were going to be an item, I was going to have to learn to cook. I agreed with the condition that he was going to have to learn to dance! Over the last 5 years I have been watching a lot of Rachael Ray and trying many recipes. I have gotten a lot better, but still have room to grow.

Thanks to Groupon, I finally did something I have been wanting to do for a LONG TIME! I took a cooking class - live, in person. You know with my very own cook station! Look how beautiful it was when I showed up! 

The class was at The Learning Kitchen in West Chester. Within the 2 hours we learned to cook three meals, each a "20 Minute Pasta". The classes are listed online, and upload the first of every month, for the next month. They fill up so quickly! I bought my Groupon (half off my class) in May and scheduled my class finally on August 1st. 

The Cooktop has room for 10-12 students, each with our own workstation. I took the class on my own, but I thought how fun it would be to share the experience with friends or family. 

We started talking about all the instruments and appliances we would be using. Then the instructor gave us a short knife skills lesson. I realized that I have been holding the knife wrong all this time (no one had shown me!) So I now know how to hold a knife more stable, and a how to cut to protect the knife as well as my own hands. We cut up everything that we would need for all three meals: onion, garlic, tomato, mozzarella, red pepper, green onion, basil, cilantro and parsley. 

Here are some pics from the cooking process:

Here are the finished meals:

1) Linguini with Roasted Tomatoes and Herb Panko Topping

2) Chicken Cutlet with Lemon Parsley Sauce over Angel Hair (pictured below on the left) 

3) Ziti with Steak and Chipotle Sauce (pictured above on the right)

I think that they turned out REALLY good. I was groaning as I ate them. There was no takehomasak, so I only had a little of each of them. I will have to make them for Doug, soon. 

If this was cheaper, I would love to do more classes. It was fun, easy and I could totally follow along. I can cross one more thing off my bucket list. My first cooking class, but hopefully not my last! 

Project of the Month: Pantry

I have decided that I can do a home project a month. There are so many that I want to do and need to do, but... well, life gets in the way. I actually enjoy being crafty, artistic and seeing my life become more organized and simplified. If there is anything I get high on, it's getting rid of stuff and seeing a perfect finished product.

This week I had a few days off of work. I some how packed those days pretty full of things that I needed to do. But, I told myself "you HAVE to do something off your project list". See I need to have some fun!! (I also made myself have a SPA DAY for no reason. That. Was. Glorious).

So the project of the month of August was to reorganize the pantry. I have very small kitchen and a very hungry husband, so when we moved in I started a little storage just down the basement stairs. I have had the plan to buy some large shelves so that I can add even more food as it goes on sale. I figure this is a smart wife thing to do...

coupon clipping +58 wife points

food on-hand +76 wife points

See, by the math it is a good decision. And, since Target had a nice little sale for me, I was able to have my project completed this week! So what do you think?

BEFORE:

AFTER:

you know i am busy when.....

.....I have a pile of magazines that I haven't read! I am such a fan of the magazine. Oh yes, beautiful pictures, lots of info, efficient reading and study!

In the next week I will be finished with my NOTY Portfolio and I will have chosen a Paint Color ! I will be able to plow through my zines in delight. I will be ripping out new recipes, planning crafts, and creating my spring fashion shopping trip. Oh the joy, that is waiting me!

Holy, Icicle Batman!

oh, where would I be without....

Each time I go to the Apple Store, I gain knowledge, meet a pretty neat person, and/or have a problem solved. I got a MacBook Pro back in December and bought a one-to-one membership, thinking that for $99/year, i would sure get my money's worth taking a class each week. I wasn't sure how much I could or would learn, but to me it was worth the abyss of possibility.

I love Mac.

I love my iPhone.

I love downloading Apps.

I love iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie....

The list goes on and on.

So, this weekend I signed up for a 3 hour project window to focus on a professional portfolio that I am working on. Within 10 minutes - I met that cool person of the week - Brian, and had a few problems solved. They opened me up to "Pages" a program that has finally closed the door to any need of a PC for me.

I made the big switch from PC to Mac in 2006. There has been one program that I have not found a replacement for and that is Microsoft Publisher. I had spent years learning this software and it was my go to for quick, crafty, publishing.... with options that Word did not have. I had no idea that Pages existed and that it functioned so much like the other Mac programs that I know very well and love. Very, very, exciting!

After 3 hours in the Apple Store, I had laid out the 38 page outline for the portfolio I needed.

A stop at the Genius Bar on the way out and they helped solve the problem of the CD stuck in Doug's computer - for free..... it is always free.

Yes Macs are more expensive. But, yes, they are worth it.

I have a family at the Mac Store. A community that is there for me in my technological need. This may read sarcastic, but is very heartfelt.

Once you go Mac, you never go back.

happiness is...

Happiness is a warm, fat, cat.... even if she cuddles up while I'm trying to write. This is my friend Annie, who only comes out while the boys are asleep.

well, hi.

Another Blog? Really?

Yeah, that is what I have been asking myself. Do I REALLY need another thing in my life that I have to keep up with. I have come to the answer. NO, I definitely do not. That is why this Blog is purely for fun. No rules. It will share the things I love and the times that are convenient. I have tried many times in my life to scrapbook, but I just never finish. This is like my digital scrapbook I guess...

So here it is. I am excited to have a creative outlet with no boundaries.

Thanks for coming along in my ingretable life.