Tons of 101 in 1001 Updates

Completed

22. I have completed and exceeded making 10 new recipes. And can I tell you the Hubs and I love both of these recipes and I have made them a couple of times. Blog posts on both to follow.

29. I FINISHED GRAD SCHOOL. I am so excited about this. It is really a huge accomplishment for me. And I did really well in the program. Now I just have to focus on finding a job career related to my field. I am working on that.

46. I (We) sent Christmas cards this year. They were made by my wonderful "sister-in-law". We have gotten so many compliments on them. You can check out her wonderful creations on her blog The Life of Me. You will not be disappointed. She is fabulous.

88. I bought a pair of boots that I love. I have been searching and searching for a pair of tall boots that could actually fit my thick legs. Well I finally found some on Shoes.com. They were not crazy expensive, but they are what I really wanted. And on top of that they were 15% off, with free shipping, AND i got a 12% rebate from MrRebates.com. I am in love.

92. I did Karaoke. My family has HUGE Christmases. The past two years our entertainment has been karaoke. I rocked out to So What by Pink with 2 of my cousins and my 2-year-old goddaughter. And yes she thinks she knows the words. It was so fun.

Working On

27. I read another non-crime related book and it was wonderful. I could not put it down. Separate post to follow.

30. I watched the documentary King Corn with the companion piece Big River. Wow. More to come on this too.

31. Now that I have finished school, I am working on learning all the countries in Africa and being able to accurately label them on a map.

And that is what I have been doing.

#22: Make 10 New Recipes

I made another great recipe from the food blog The Way the Cookie Crumbles. This time it was a wonderful, flavorful pasta. Honestly, I cannot go wrong with selections from this blog. If you are in need of ideas make sure you check it out.

Taco Pasta Salad (serves 8-10)
source The Way the Cookie Crumbles

Ingredients:

• 1 pound wagon wheel pasta (I used whole wheat bowtie pasta)
  
• salt


• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen corn (organic)


• 1½ cups salsa (organic)


• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed (organic)


• 2 medium tomatoes, diced


• ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro


• 8 ounces (2 cups) shredded cheddar cheese


• 3-4 tablespoons lime juice


• 1 large (or 2 small) avocado, peeled, seeded, and diced


• 1 tablespoon cumin


• 2 teaspoon chili powder


• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper


• 2 garlic cloves, minced


• ¼ cup olive oil
  

Directions:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt and the pasta. Cook according to the package directions. Drain; stir the frozen corn into the pasta to cool the pasta and defrost the corn. Stir the salsa into the pasta and corn, then add the beans, tomatoes, cilantro, and cheese.

Squeeze the lime juice into a small bowl and add the avocado; stir to coat the avocado. Remove the avocado from the lime juice and stir it into the pasta mixture. Add the spices, garlic, and ½ teaspoon salt to the lime juice, then slowly whisk in the oil. Stir the dressing into the salad. Serve immediately or chill for up to 1 day (longer if you don’t add the avocado).

Verdict:

OMG. This was so good. I am really thankful to because I did not pay attention to how much this made. If the Hubs didn't like it, there was no way I would have been able to eat it all by myself. But that did not happen. He loved it and I did too. It was so much I was going to take some to my mom so it would not go bad. But I never got a chance. The Hubs was eating the leftovers everyday. That never happens. It was so good I have already given the recipe to 6 other people (I did not take credit for this recipe). One person already tried it and they loved it as well. You will not regret making this wonderful meal.

Bad Blogger

Ok, I have seriously been a bad blogger over here. I have so much going on. I read a really great book, I have a new recipe to post from an amazing food blogger, I am in my last semester of grad school, and I am sure there are tons of things on my 101 in 1001 list I have completed or am working. But I have been so busy I have not even had a chance to look at the list.

But there will be posts coming up about the book I read and actually 2 new recipes I have tried that were yummy.

So there is more to come.

I have been blogging over on Journey to Green and if you stop by there soon you can get a discount on a wonderful, natural, aluminum-free deodorant that actually works, as well as other all natural bath and body products from the fabulous Etsy seller, Rachel of Soapwalla Kitchen. So run over there and check it out.

I will be posting here soon.

#28: Read 100 Books

I have been a bad blogger. Well, for this blog anyway. I have been plugging away at my green blog and I hope you all will check it out. Journey to Green. I will try to be over here more, but with the other blog, my last semester of grad school starting Monday, trying to stick to going to the gym 3 times a week, and everything else I have going on; it might be tough.

But on to my 101 in 1001.

I have actually read 2 books. I finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. I really enjoyed the entire series. I am even more excited that they are making a movie. I have the Swedish version on my Netflix queue and should be getting that any day now.

I plowed through the rest of the series The Girl who Played with Fire and The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. I could not wait to see how it ended. Really, this is a must read series. I just hope the movie does it justice.

Making Changes

I have got to make some serious changes for my health. I too few months I will be thirty. I am not looking forward to this day at all. In fact, I am a little depressed about it, but I am trying not to think about it. I have decided that I will be even more depressed about this day if I do not start making changes to my diet and start consistently exercising. I tried the Insanity. Honestly, I am not there yet, but I will be. I want to lose 29 pounds. Really, more but I would be happy with 20. Way at the bottom of my blog is a ticker of my progress.

So basic changes, I have to watch the number of calories I am eating. I have been eating with reckless abandon and that is NOT like me. The Hubs keeps recommending that I go to a nutritionist. I am all for that, but I have to do some research. I do not want to go somewhere and they are trying to give me some pills or B-12 shots as a solution. That is not for me.

I have been going to the gym, but I know that is because I am in the midst of my little break between semesters. I am going to attempt to make a conscious effort to work out 3 times a week once school starts again. Hopefully, I will be able to fit that in. When I worked different hours I would go to the gym all the time. But since I changed my hours it has decreased and decreased. I have to change that.

I also need to find some variety in my meal plans. Frankly, I am getting bored. And when that happens, I start eating crap.

And basically those are the keys to getting in shape anyway. Work out more and eat less. So that is what I gotta do.

I just need to get motivated. And that is my biggest issue. I already know that more than one day a week I cannot get up at 3:30 and work out with co-workers, but I will do it once a week. I want to work out with the Hubs, but he likes to go too late. So I just have to convince myself to go alone. As Nike says, Just do it. And I will. I have to.

#89: Legg Mason Tennis Classic

This week the Hubs and I went to the Legg Mason Tennis Classic (LMTC). For those of you that don't know I am a HUGE tennis fan. Let's say that again, HUGE. And this was my first time ever seeing tennis live. We got tickets for Monday night not knowing who was going to play that day. We got to see James Blake practice and play, unfortunately he lost. And we got to see Fernando Verdasco. Ok, can I say damn good looking by the way. That was the highlight of Monday though. The other single's players we saw I was not familiar with. We did get to see a doubles match with Baghdatis and Wawrinka, but I am not a doubles tennis follower.

Highlights of Day 1

The real highlight of Day 1. While watching James Blake practice, he hit a pop ball into the stands. And I got it. How did that happen? Well, it was coming straight for my head.

Me: OMG. This ball is going to hit me in my head and all these people are going to see. (this is what I was thinking)

I put up my hand and just try to block my face. The ball hits my hand and bounces on the ground in front of me. I grab it and put it in my purse.

The Hubs: You should have caught that.

Yep, that what I got from the Hubs. Um. All I was thinking about was not being bashed in the head by an out of control tennis ball.

Anyway, we had SO much fun that day AND the announcer kept talking about who was playing the next, that we decided to buy tickets right then for the next day. Woo hoo.

So, on Day 2 of my LMTC experience I got to see Andy Roddick, John Isner (who I think I have a crush on), and the Bryan brothers who were not playing that day, but received an award for being the winningest doubles tennis team in the whole history of tennis. Ok, seriously, I was like a kid in a candy store.

Ok. I have to explain my crush on John Isner, and yes this started before his marathon match at Wimbledon. So anyway, he is like 6 feet forever and I have a thing for tall guys, but on top of that he does this thing before he serves where he bounces the tennis ball through his legs like it is a basketball. And I don't know why but I love it. It is something like this.

Can you even see that? Well, anyway that is the extent of my crush. Besides, he is a baby.

Okay, so I got to fulfill a dream that I have had forever and the Hubs who is not a tennis fan at all enjoyed himself. He said it was better to see live than on tv. Whatever, it is great no matter what.

And we decided that next year we are getting tickets again. And now I want to see more professional tennis. I think I am more hooked now than I was before. Yes, a monster has been created.

#22: Make 10 New Recipes

Marinated Pan-Fried Salmon

source Jenn Cuisine

I think this is the first recipe I have made from Jenn Cuisine. I love her blog, but sometimes her recipes seem a little out of my league. But, I kept looking at this recipe for weeks and finally decided to try it.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup tamari soy sauce
• 1/4 cup sweet chile sauce
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons minced chives
• 2 salmon fillets
• 2 tablespoons canola oil (I used extra virgin olive oil)

Directions:

In a bowl whisk together the marinade ingredients, then pour into a sealable plastic bag. Add salmon fillets to bag. Squeeze out all air and seal the bag. Push the marinade around to cover both fillets.

Let marinate for 20 minutes.

Heat skillet on medium-high heat. Add vegetable oil to pan. Cook fillets a couple of minutes on each side, until done to your satisfaction. (I like mine cooked all the way through, some like a little pink in the middle). The marinade will caramelize will cooking.

Serve on top of a bed of lettuce, or accompany with your favorite veggies.

Verdict: This was delicious. I don't cook with sesame that often, so when the Hubs walked in the door and smelled the marinade he says what is that weird smell? I was thinking, great. Waste of my time. But, it wasn't. We both loved this recipe. In fact, I am making this again tonight and I will be doing probably 6 fillets. So definitely getting added to the list of recipes.

Hope you enjoy this recipe too.

Side note: I also cooked some rice to go with this and it was great.

Other blog plug... I started a new blog about going green. I hope you all will check it out. Journey to Green.