Amerika, Fuck Yeah!

I only require a few things for a good 4th of July holiday- beer, barbecued meat, fireworks, and the woman I love. Did I mention I also am going to have a 4 day weekend? Oh summer how I love thee.

Vacation!!!!!!!!

Today is my last day at work for a whole week. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm not burned out exactly, just ready for some me time. Sleeping in, dressing sloppily, and spending time with my family. Then I just have to make it for another 3 1/2 weeks before I get a week & 1/2 off which will include 5 day in NY with M. Can't wait! I haven't left Arkansas in much too long.

Last night I made potato soup for E and I to have for dinner tonight. I also made some lemon coconut cookies by request. I still have dough for another few dozen. Not sure when I'm going to do that.

Next week I'll be doing a TON of baking. Still haven't decided on my dessert menu yet. So far it looks like carrot cake, fruit cake cookies, and apple pie. I'll probably be do pound cake and banana bread but I'm not sure if I'll do anything else. Depends on how much energy I have :) Maybe another pie?

Take it slow

Things are going well with E, my new guy that I've been dating for ................about a week and a half. It seems much longer than that..........which he says is what happens when two people really click. I really like this one. I know I've said that before but I REALLY do. People have commented that I seem different about this one, that I seem happier and have a bit more of a sparkle in my eye. He's pretty fantastic. He thinks I'm hot and awesome and tells me so on a regular basis. He likes to cook and since I like to eat that works out well :)
I'm really enjoying myself. I'm trying to be well behaved and not over analyze or rush things or get ahead of myself. It's hard cause I like to just dive into things.

My brother, his, and my niece will be here in 3 weeks!!! I'm so excited. You know, I really love my family. Yeah they drive me crazy sometimes but who doesn't? Thanksgiving will be pretty awesome this year. Lots of family and lots of food.

D moved out :( which is sad. It had nothing to do with our friendship which is good. Gizmo is a little lonesome but we're going to schedule some playdates.

So reorganizing the house.....my goal is NOT to accumulate more stuff. We'll see how that works out.

Dinner

I have a hatred for almost all things salad. The taste of lettuce in my mouth makes me want to gag. Similar response for the taste of mayo.
I realized here recently though that I don't have to make things the traditional way. For instance a few weeks ago I made chicken sald but with greek yogurt instead of mayo or salad dressing. I also put in green apples, red peppers, and cucumber along with a splash of lemon juice and some garlic and black pepper.
Tonight for dinner I think I'm going to make my version of pasta salad. Slightly al dente whole wheat rotini, chopped up chicken that was baked in olive oil, garlic, and Italian seasoning, chopped fresh spinach, feta cheese, chopped black olives, all tossed with some olive oil, garlic, and more Italian seasoning (which I bought at the farmer's market). Served at room temperature, this is one of my favorite dishes.

Betty Crocker

For the last several months, since about Thanksgiving really, I've been on this baking kick. I bake at least once a month. Cookies, pound cake, cupcakes, banana bread, muffins, whatever. I'm entirely sure why. I don't even eat most of what I bake. I either take it to work or leave it around for my roommate to eat. Occasionally I bake for an occasion but not typically. Most recently I made a carrot bundt cake, which turned out super-well. I also baked some lemon coconut sugar cookies. Not enough lemon for my taste but everyone else who's tasted them has liked them.

Sometimes I wonder where I got my baking bug from. My mother doesn't really like to bake. The only thing I really remember her making as a kid was apple crumble. My grandmother apparently baked but she died before I was born. I have a great aunt who bakes, and one of my mother's sister's bakes. I have a new niece and I wonder if maybe my own daughters won't like to bake, but L will.

I have some bananas that are getting brown and I think I'm going to make some banana bread happen. I'm sure I'll find someone to eat it.