on the dole

I got my first unemployment check yesterday. I always forget how they arrive at the amount so at first I was a bit disappointed, but some money coming in is better than no money coming in at all. Plus I already deferred my student loans so I do not really have any bills other than food and helping with utilities. I will make it work. I already know how "short" I will be compared to my regular payroll but since my expenses are down it should balance out. I have definitely gotten much better at managing my finances these last 7 years. I had a decent amount saved up before I got laid off, but I am going to try to hold on to that and keep building on it. I need to roll over my 401k too.

It's definitely time for some pantry cooking around here too. I need to see what I already have on hand and plan meals from that. I have already been cooking a breakfast/lunch that I eat for the whole week. French Scramble, Scrambled Tempeh, or Quinoa Red Bean Burritos. I made the tempeh two weeks ago but forgot to post it. I always have trouble with tempeh, so I am going to try again this week. I might make snobby Joe's too. For Easter I am going to bring Texas Caviar and maybe a pie or cheesecake. I have two graham crusts I haven't used yet, for shame!

hospitaliano

Ever since I found out we are hosting Christmas Eve, I have been wondering what our plan is going to be. I love my mom, but she is not really keen on having visitors over. It is always a huge ordeal the weeks, days, hours, prior and then for the duration of the visit, wondering when they will leave. I'm hoping for it to be different this time, especially if my sister and I help out a lot. Let's not even get into how wonderful it is to not have to go out to the high desert at all this year. That is a celebration unto itself. Being fortunate enough to have most of my family within 15 minutes of each other on Christmas Eve is even more amazing, but the cherry on top is I can sneak off to bed whenever I am ready.

We usually eat tamales or ham or some other traditional stuff, but I was secretly hoping that as hosts we wouldn't have to do the majority of the cooking- so that I could actually have some holiday kitchen time. Yesterday we talked about doing a bbq if the weather was nice enough (usually is!), but ribs, steaks, etc instead of burgers and hot dogs, fancier bbq if you will. As of tonight it is going to be Italian, or more like what passes for Italian in America. I have not been to Italy but I am pretty sure it does not taste anything like the Olive Garden. However I am going to keep my critique to myself because if the omnivores order out, that means I can make spinach lasagne and some roasted veggies and this totally gross-good looking pizza dip I saw in family circle. I'm also thinking of doing a soup since I am sure we will also have salads. Of course there will be desserts and a door prize too. It's a good thing I was already planning on going wine shopping this week, now I won't look so bad buying a case since it is "for the party".

Now I have to decide what to wear- torn between dressing super nice and being a classy hostess or staying comfy and casual since it's just family and I am going to be home after all. It really will depend on how long I take with cooking I guess-the more do-ahead recipes I can find, the better my outfit will be.

rabbit rabbit

I'm crossing my fingers that all of the dog drama is winding down and I can start to get back on track. We went for a little jog this morning and it felt great, will be even better tomorrow since my new shoes should arrive today. I am trying to get back on the health wagon, have to start making menus and shopping smart again. There's lots of stuff I should be doing but am not, so I'm just going to have to take on one thing at a time.

I am re-learning to ride a bike. It's super embarassing, but I am doing great so far. I don't know why "easy" things like this are so difficult for me to do. It can only be because I make it that way. Everyone always made fun of me for being uncoordinated and so on, but now I am old enough to know not to listen to them. I am a little freaked out about going beyond our block since we live off a really busy street, but I know I will do it. Luckily it is a straight shot from our house to the grocery store so that will be a good first outing. I see myself "forgetting" items on purpose so I can bike to get them.

Oh and the second round of vegan twinkies had a more generous amount of filling, so I was feeling them more. The peanut butter s'mores from sweet & sara are amazing. I am glad I only bought one. Good thing they are kind of $$ for individual treats or I would buy tons. Since I was treated out I did not make cupcakes, but maybe tomorrow if it is cool/rainy like they say it should be.

rules, schmules

I know a lot of people will tell you not to buy clothes you plan on fitting into later or to hold on to your "skinny" clothes in case, but I am glad I did the latter. It's going to save me some money over the next few months since I don't want to buy too much new clothes that will be too big for me a few months later. I have one of those under the bed boxes full of casual tops and tee shirts (mostly reis-related, shhhh). I only saved my faves and did toss out a lot of stuff before setting these gems aside. Like I said, it's mostly band shirts and a few thrift store numbers I can't quite give up yet, maybe when I am 35 or 40?

Last night before going to dinner I tried on some of them and they looked great, just like old times. My only new problem is that I do need to find some new bottoms to go with them. Most of the shirts end at my natural waist and my most recent go-to skirt is low rise and getting lower every day (need a belt-stat!). I am going to cruise old navy again because I remember seeing higher waisted skirts a while back. I have a really cute above the knee one, but I need to extend my tan and get over being thigh-shy. I did wear it this morning to the library, so that's a start.

I'm really proud of the progress I've made, especially since I haven't even begun to put forth a real effort. If I this is what I achieve by putting in the minimum, I can only imagine what I can do if I really put it down. Were it not for my four legged fitness partner, I doubt I would be walking so much. I have to thank her that and the amazing tan I am getting too! Since she is starting to do a bit better (thanks meds!) I will have to start planning some supplementary solo exercise in the weeks to come, mainly I want to add some weights and some shaping stuff. Of course when she is recovered we can extend our walks to what they used to be and resume jogging in the a.m. I can get back to cooking/planning better meals as well. I know I basically shoved everything else aside to take care of Penny, but I am glad I did.

taco tuesday on a monday

I'm always looking for new recipes to expand our menus and not our waistlines. I've been trying harder to add in vegetables, grains, etc. that we probably would have been eating for years if only we had taken the time to try them. Between my sister and I, I usually cook the more involved, complicated dishes and she will do the quicker easier ones, maybe because she is actually the "busy mom" and I get home around 3 so I have more time to go all out-even after walking the dog.

Lately she has been cruising the magazines in the breakroom at her job and has been bringing back recipes she finds. I think she's brought three or four in the past two weeks. It's really cute because I know she does support my goal of having us all eat better but she doesn't always have the time/desire to cook as often or as hard as I do. So she's still involved in the process at the jump off, now if I only I could get her to swing back around and pick up the dish duties. (I clean when she cooks, but also most often when I cook as well).

Anyway, last night's recipe was from Family Circle and you can find it here. It's called "Taco Night Pasta" and it's ridiculously easy. I goofed and got medium enchilada sauce instead of mild so I only used regular chili powder rather than hot. My niece will always use "spicy" as an excuse to not eat something, so I have to make sure it isn't really spicy to begin with. I didn't put cheese because we don't all like fyh's cheddar but I did shred some fyh monterey jack for the table and everyone could add as much as she liked. My niece took nearly all of it, which is what I would have done with dairy cheese at her age, so I can't be mad at her.

I don't know if it tasted like tacos so much as chili mac from back in the hot lunch days at school but for the effort, it was good. I had two and a half small bowls, so that should say something. My only notes would be to add a bit more seasonings and maybe use more tomatoes. We'll definitely make it again, especially on a cooler day like the few we've had lately.