Happy Holidays!

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas! Ours was filled with love, laughter, joy and snow! I mean, it snowed... in Texas...on CHRISTMAS! How awesome is that? Time to get ready for the New Year!  Be safe!

Throw an egg on it

(Picture taken with my iPhone 4s)

These past few weeks, I've been trying to go back to a flexitarian diet & get rid of processed foods (check out my 30 before 30 list on the right sidebar). Most of my life, I had an obsession with vegetables. I loved vegetables and grains and meat always came second. When depression hit me a few years ago, I ate whatever I wanted and obviously I regret it. Luckily, I've been on track with my healthier eating habits. 

If you're looking for something a bit healthier to make, this might be your new go to food. I guess in real life it's called "stir fry" but you're really not frying anything besides the egg. I cook the rice in the rice cooker (usually I use brown rice but I ran out) and sautee fresh spinach and mushrooms in a pan. Cook two eggs (sometimes, I scrambled the eggs in with my veggies) and throw them on top of your finished products. I love soy sauce (which is not really healthy for you with all of that sodium) so I dash a bit of that on top when it's all done. Voila! Obviously this is nothing new. Asian recipes call for eggs on top and inside their recipes all the and I WAS getting a craving for Korean when this "home made stir fry" obsession started but whatever. Grab some veggies, cook some rice and have a go at it. But leftover rice & veggies in the fridge so you can indulge on it when you get a craving. You'll be thanking me later!

If you want to try another recipe like this and maybe have some ginger on hand, check out Smitten Kitchen's version which I just discovered this morning.

If my sisters could see me cook now, they might flip because like I said in my previous recipe for Turnip Green Soup, I am no Paula Deen! I mean, I made blackberry cobbler the other day to eat with my delicious home made Chicken Noodle Soup!

My Christmas Wish-List

DEAR SANTA,

The following are the items I would love to be under my tree this year.

Top to bottom/ Left to Right (because I was too lazy to photoshop cool circles and numbers today)

First row: 

A 5 in 1 record player: Surely this is self explanatory. I remember listening to my grandpa's record player, which he still has, every time I visited my grandparents house. I've always asked for his record player and he never gives me a straight answer, so I've decided that I just want my own. I had a travel one in 2006 but I ended up giving it away. It was a stupid stupid decision that I regret. 

A gift certificate to Spool 72. It's my favorite online clothing shop (which I have yet to purchase from) and I'm in need of new clothes <3

Smitten Kitchen Cookbook: How can I not have my favorite food bloggers cookbook in my house?! 

Second Row: 

Nintendo NES system: The first time I fell in love with game consoles involved Mario & Duck Hunt. I'm sure you all feel the same. 

Ana White's The Handbuilt Home: I love Ana White. I discovered her blog when I lived in Alaska. If you haven't checked her blog out, PLEASE do. She comes up with plans for awesome things that you can hand build yourself. Spot a table at Pottery Barn that you loved? She probably has the plans for that. Mike and I are planning on building two things from her site (loft bed for my son & farmhouse table for our dining area) and I just want the book to obsess over future building plans :) 

Forever 21 gift card: As stated above, I need clothes & I love Forever21. The end on that one.

Third Row:

Polaroid Z2300: I want an instant camera. I would an old polaroid but they don't make the film anymore and it's a bit expensive. I'm not too fond of the FujiFilm instants (but will not reject one if offered lol) and this one has caught my eye. At first, I wanted a portable printer. The fact that this is a camera & printer all in one? It won my heart.

Piano: I taught myself to play my grandparents piano when I was a kid. I would take my grandparents piano but it belongs to my Aunt really. So I shall, one day, have my own. Not a keyboard. A piano. A girl can dream...

Digital Time-Lapse Camera: Really guys. Who doesn't want a time lapse camera? If you've never thought about getting one, I'm sure you are now. These things are GREAT. I have sooo many ideas for this little guy if it ever gets into my hands!


I promise I've been good,
Jenn

You're a virgin, who can't drive.

I beg to differ. I, Jennifer *Bleep*, am officially a licensed driver. I can't wait until the day my son asks for his license and I get to tell him the story of how I was 27 when I got mine. The morning of the test, I made a parallel parking spot in front of my dads house with bamboo sticks & practiced. I practiced so much we had to take a break to eat breakfast because I was starting to doubt myself. I mean, I was parking a Ford Taurus Wagon for goodness sakes. I had to get it right. Hours later, I walked out of the DMV with my license. My son had never been so proud of me. 

"MOM! IM SO HAPPY YOU GOT YOUR LICENSE! NOW WE CAN GO TO WALMART WHENEVER WE WANT TO!!!"

ERRRRRRR! *Puts hand up* Stop the bus. I want to make sure you all know that at this point he must have been high with happiness because he clearly was delusional. We do not shop at Walmart :D Nevertheless, I just nodded and agreed. All I could think about was that I can actually start buying clothes I like because now I'll have places to wear them to. Or how my library books won't be late anymore (which I owe a 30 dollar fine or something) because I won't dread making the bike ride up and down the hills to get to downtown. Or how we can finally go to downtown Dallas on dates to the indie theaters or drive to the bus stop to make a trip to check out the new Perot Nature and Science Museum. Or how I can finally drive to the college in the next town if I have to, to take classes when school starts. Or how winter is officially coming and we'll have a warm car to travel in when we need to get to work. Or how I have the potential to get a new job <33

Okay these are obviously just dreams. Our next step is to get a legal vehicle to drive. Crossing my fingers that I make the best decision as soon as possible. After that, this blog may get slightly more interesting because of my easier access to the outside world.

Do you know what this also means? I've marked a 30 before 30 item off my list!! I feel wonderful that I accomplished that goal. It's taken me a few days but it's finally settled in. I am very proud of myself. I called my boyfriend the moment I got it because I wanted him to be the first to know. He sent me the sweetest texts on that day that just meant so much. *sigh* Anywhoo...

I haven't blogged in the past few weeks and according to Instagram, the following has happened:

We somehow survived the midnight premiere of Twilight. We were pretty miserable and tired when we got there but I did it. Ha! I say I because Mike fell asleep mid movie. That's okay. He didn't really miss too much but I DID try to wake him up when the only good scene in the movie popped up. Failed. He's such a hard sleeper. He was obviously already half asleep in that picture but he is such a good sport. 

Let's see, what else. We went out for the first time in awhile. Took a picture together. Oh look! We're still together! I have proof! Look at our kissy picture!

Yes, you should feel bad for the person who had to suffer and take this for us. In the real world, she's my pretend sister wife. Tonight, was obviously not her night with our pretend shared husband. Don't act like you've never had a pretend sister wife. Or pretend lesbian lover. Whatever your little adult heart desires at that moment. 

Hmmm what else do I have for you? Besides Thanksgiving where I prepared my favorites: Green Bean Casserole and Candied Yams. I couldn't stand the sight of seeing anything go to waste so I froze what I could days later. Especially my moms gravy. She makes such a delicious gravy. 

Besides lots of pictures of my baby boy & the horrible haircut I gave him...

I have nothing else for you. I've been so busy at work during this holiday season. I've come to the conclusion lately that I need to make a bigger change which will probably include additional sacrifices but it needs to be done. I haven't had a day to spend with my family together, besides Thanksgiving, in months. It's taken a toll on me and my relationship with both my boys. I don't like it one bit. Family is the core of who I am and if that isn't stable, nothing about me can be. It's that serious. So whatever changes need to be made to have a day with my boys will be made soon. Even if it includes working double shifts one day. Whatever to be with my boys. It already sucks that I generally have to send my baby boy off on weekends because I can't afford childcare. But never having a day with my love or even a night because of our schedules. Bleh. It sucks. Life could be worse but if I could adjust it to be a little better, I will. 

I hope you all are having a great holiday season! Remember the reason for the season, whatever that may be & don't stress too much on buying presents. It's about family after all :)