The finished product and more

So, like I said in a previous blog about crafting, I was working on a paper mache bowl. After working with it and due to the wonderful sewing talents of a friend of mine, here is what turned out. As I work on a second one, trying to get a more even/less warping bubble forming during the drying process...we will see how it goes. The "e" doesn't stand for anything, just a random letter to pick. Kind of like those numbers on shirts you get at Old Navy. People ask you what they mean thinking you of all people would have an inside connection to the textile graphic designer!
The e was hand painted on. I wasn't about to pay 5 dollars for one of those vinal letters which I am sure would screw up the application of it. This must be where they make all their money at craft stores...having to buy multiple supplies from past experience or fear of destroying what you had.

In other industrious news....

We have these nice Calphalon pans which are from our wedding gifts. After being tired of throwing out a non stick pan about once a year or looking the other way when those black non stick flecks were becoming even more noticeable....I wanted pans which were not hand me downs despite being new or ones which distributed heat more evenly. I hate that where we live, most everyone has electric ranges. Cooking would be much more enjoyable by NOT burning all my food up in certain areas while leaving insides uncooked.

The care instructions state: Do not exceed 450 degree, no dishwasher, no metal utensils. We hand wash these suckers, but then wrestle and struggle on where to put them away as I do not want to telescope them in fear of hurting the non stick coating. So after thought, my space where the sink is looked a little bare. Now with only a common hammer and a few nails...the problem is solved while also looking pleasing to the eye and bringing the effect of a woman who knows how to cook.

No need for fancy Ikea kitchen essentials....just some elbow grease!

Slap it together!

Have you ever had those times where the thought of cooking something just overwhelmed you? You are expected to be a wiz in the kitchen and come up with a hot dish despite what state the kitchen is in.....

A nice surprise was found this morning after I decided to wake up on my day off. Mr. G had taken care of the dishes and put them in the dishwasher! Now things were slightly less chaotic to deal with.

Now things were much more primed to cook.

Here is my concoction from the pantry: Mexican Lasagna

Recipe

1 can Italian stewed tomatos
1 pound chicken breast
1/4-1/3 cup sour cream
Graded cheese
Burrito size flour tortillas
1-2 cups white rice (I used boil in a bag rice)

Cut chicken up into bite size pieces. Season with pepper and onion powder while in hot pan. After initial cooking has begun, pour in tomatos and its juice. Let simmer until rice is 2 minutes away from being done. Add rice into skillet and mix well. Add sour cream, put on low eat and reduce heat to thicken up mixture.

Take Pyrex dish and place tortillas cut to shape (I used a 9 x9 pan, so I had to cut them square). You will need 4 of them. Once mixture on the stove has thickened up a bit, layer it with your tortillas. Be sure to place first tortilla down on bottom to start your first layer. I found my trim pieces to work nicely around the edges as I layered my insides. Before placing the final tortilla, sprinkle cheese on top. Then add additional cheese to top of tortilla as this will help from it curling off.

Place in oven at 325 for 10-13 minutes.

Pieces should come out easily for serving. Add salsa as garnish if you like. 9x9 size serves 4-5 people.

In-law Drama

So, just a little over 4 months, we have in-law drama.

Mr. G's parents live on the east coast. Mrs. G's parent lives on the west, but south. Both of us live in the PNW. This means the phone is our best form of communication next to flying out to each respective home.

When we got married, a few days before the wedding we had a brunch with all the parents together. This was right before Mrs. G's mother became quite ill and why most of my wedding pictures have her looking unhappy. In fact, the comment made by her in regards to my new mother-in-law, "Boy, she looks like your real mom."

At Christmas time before wedding and at Fathers day, my mother has sent gifts as a way to say hello and work through the distance gap.

Well, the only way she's heard about their liking the things she's sent is through us. No thank you card or phone call has been returned. This has now rubbed my mother the wrong way and we now get to play mediator.

I tried to tell her it was nothing intentional....how they have a 24/7 job position and its hard to get those things taken care of. I even mentioned how when we last talked to Mr. G's parents about Christmas in 2010 if we are then living on the east coast to have her fly up and stay with them.

Do I see a favoritism with family? Yes...I do. We call Mr. G's parents more during each week. I talk with my mother-in-law more in comparison with how often my husband talks with my mother.

Its difficult when I do not share the same values as my mother does. She doesn't know of the same love I know to be what love is. Her heart is big and love language gifts. Care packages are her way of saying she misses you. As much as I love these gifts, its hard to not feel guilty about my future plans.

They say you have two shots at a great family.....the one you're born into and the one you marry. The one I've married into is my attempt to change my life 180 degrees. Change, but not to leave out.

So how does one help bridge the gap when two families live miles apart?

Birthdays and your spouse.....

We are closing in on almost 1 month away till Mr. G's birthday. Which has left me a bit puzzled on what to grace upon him that will meet or beat last year. Since he is a man of adventure, I saved up to give him a one hour flying lesson in a 4 person sesna. And yes he had the controls for most of the flying time. He had a great time....I puked in my purse. Needless to say I didn't keep it and was worth the sacrifice of not doing it in my camera bag.

Little to my knowledge, this gift earned me brownie points towards my birthday where I was asked to wed Mr. G while on a dinner cruise.

Now how does one out do that? I can't afford a flying lesson to the moon. Mr. G is also scratching his head as to do something bigger of a proposal since our birthdays are just about a month apart.

Here is what I have tried so far and come up empty handed....

Shooting range-They require you to own your own gun. Another place will let you rent one, but require another buddy to pay also. So combine those costs with amo, targets, shooting time etc...it comes out to an expensive birthday experience.

Columbia River- We don't own a boat and have come up with no connections returning my request to go out with them and enjoy an afternoon on the water while we help chip in on the gas.

I have cooked him dinner before as a special meal and done books he likes in the past....The fancy watch has already been purchased in the past, he has business clothes. We don't need more things as we have enough. Much like myself, I rather get him an experience he will treasure for years to come. There is one item I have purchased for a stinking killer deal at 99% off the original. But its not exactly a bells and whistles gift.

So I ask those of you who read this hidden blog....do you have any ideas for a great husband birthday gift? Keep in mind our time off together let alone over night is very hard to get and the day falls on a Monday.

Please leave a comment!

Hey, its my mouth and money too ya know!

Why is it that men want to be in charge of their wives that when it comes to talking to doctors and such, they interrupt.........thinking they know your body better?

Due to lack of proper dental care that later portion of growing up.....my mouth needs a lot of work. This is on top of the past 3 grand worth getting done before I moved here. I HATE THE DENTIST. Never do I leave with good news. I loathe much like taking the car to the mechanic. How much is it going to cost me this time?

For what they want to do this time around, I think installing multiple laptops would be highly entertaining than boring crowns.

Yet when on speaker phone I get the "be quiet, let me talk" look and lips from Mr. G while the dentist is explaining the estimate. Then I am explained of the reason why he wanted me to not speak, as I was getting agitated at what this would all cost.

OH NO! How about having the control over my body taken away like I was 10 and didn't have a say in my health yet.

Then with cost being discussed, our budget and where are we come up. Since the beginning of our marriage, Mr. G has been the banker. I wanted him to make sure we stay on task while also reduce out debt. But when you are asked if you can afford something and look in your wallet and only see ????.....this leaves me a bit shaken. Turning a blind eye to all the little things only makes things worse about all our bills.

When I get agitated, my body gets tense and I do my own little fit when patience has been for the most part spent.

I don't want to know ALL the details of our money matters, but have some control over the left overs. Putting money in different spending accounts like for clothes, Costco, entertainment...so when the need arises, I have a better way to know if we can spend it and what other accounts would have to give up to cover if done for too much. I think the hardest part is not going out to eat. I don't always feel up to cooking and who wouldn't want a quick fix?

Why is it always the little things?

I guess this is my rant after feeling frustrated........but hey, its the first year!

The Alarm Clock

Depending on if you and your spouse/significant other have similar work hours, I am sure you have an alarm clock you share. In my case I just use the cell phone and have my work week and times to get up all programed to run seamlessly. Mr G has his clock CD radio instead.

Which gets me to this issue......

On days where I have the pleasure of having off or going into the office later, I am ROBBED of oblivion to KPAM talk radio at the highest volume level possible. And to add insult to misery, this jolt after recovery comes not once but MANY times as the snooze alarm is slammed.

Mr. G claims this is the only way he can wake up. I see it as a cop out to not push yourself to just get up!

I will soon impose a law in this place where there will be a snooze limit, so use them wisely!

So...where do you want to eat?

If you are married, maybe you've been in this senario....

I had the day off and had spent most of it with not a whole lot of structure. My new book has sucked me in and I finished my craft project (Pictures to post). With this being said, I caught something to eat in the kitchen at my leisure. This put my lunch at a very unlikely time, pushing to 3:30.

At around 6:45, Mr. G comes home. I apologize for the lack of dinner on the table, stating I was not very inspired (or disgusted at the lack of clean kitchen Mr. G neglected to help spruce up). He said it was okay. Push came to shove, I would make a sandwich and have a snack for myself later.

Back to my book.


Then he comes in the bedroom and says, lets go out to eat...where do you want to go?

I hate this question.

We live at the home of mediocre eating places. Over priced chains and places I am simply tired of. The only suggestion I have is ordering take out and having the night in. This way I can nibble and take the rest for lunch tomorrow....aka pizza. This was not exactly his idea of dinner. Being that my stomach was not exactly hungry, I shoot down most of his suggestions which didn't vary a whole lot to begin with. I am sorry but Sharies and Denny's are the same place with different decor.

We end up having a big fight which finds us at the debating table where if any fight has occurred, it gets solved in a more adult like manner. We decide to start the bedroom discussion over again with said changes.

Instead of giving me too many choices, he says he has as place and we head to the car. The place is Olive Garden. Not high on my list due to cost and portions given, as we park the car and walk towards the front doors, I ask what the second choice was. Remembering this choice was not what I wanted, my mind goes towards Changs Mongolian Grill.

Back in the car and away we go again, mind you its now almost 9 PM.

We are seated and I look at the menu. Dinner had gone up in price and they took away the one dish run making it so you could not take any leftovers home. Grrrrrrrr! Not what I wanted or wanted to pay when I wasn't all that hungry.

Back to Olive Garden.....

I ate my soup and had some bread sticks while bagging the main dish for tomorrow.

Men and women are certainly different. I see going out to eat as a means to be fed. Mr. G see's it as his contribution towards not being able to cook the same that I do for him during the week. Otherwise I would have been just fine going to a place he wanted and nibbling off his and reading a book inbetween. Communication is something that no book can fully tell you how to do it!