Category Archives: Food/Drink

Highlights of 2016

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It has admittedly been a tough year for me in my personal life and in the life of our country but I thought I’d end this year with my highlights.

[+] The Warriors had the best record in the NBA and made it to the NBA Championships AGAIN!!!

[+] CLEVELAND LOST THE WORLD SERIES!!! (For those who aren’t aware, hating on Ohio sports teams is one of my core values after living in central Ohio for 2 1/2 years and dealing with Ohio sports fans hating on my teams.) My Warriors have been avenged!!!

[+] The Cubs had one of the biggest gatherings in human history for their victory parade. Not to mention, the Cubs winning the Series is so much of a BETTER ending than it would be if Cleveland had won because the Cubs have had the longer drought and were a much better team.

[+] I achieved one of my dreams of living in Washington when I moved up here in June 2016.

[+] Hillary Clinton was the first female to win the nomination of a major political party and won the popular vote.

[+] I was able to go back to school this fall, discovered a deep love of Accounting, and had a 4.0 for my first quarter!

[+] My Huskies made it to the semi-final game against Alabama!

[+] My Giants made it to the play-offs.

[+] THE DODGERS SUCKED IN THE NLCS!!!!

[+] MY NINERS HAVE A BETTER RECORD THAN THE CLEVELAND BROWNS! (Granted, they have the second worst record in the NFL but at least they’re better than the Browns.)

[+] I rocked the Write 31 Days challenge!

[+] I got a Fitbit (finally!!!!) and won a few challenges.

[+] I got to introduce my little beach boy to snow!

[+] I discovered that my school district here in Washington had a YUGE team ready to work with Daniel when we arrived. TWELVE PEOPLE were at the IEP meeting SPECIFICALLY for Daniel. His PT and OT were at his parent-teacher conference and are positively smitten with my little monster. 🙂

[+] I joined a FABULOUS parish up here. I’m seriously still being sustained by the joy from the Christ Mass on Christmas Eve night.

[+] Daniel WILLINGLY takes his ADHD meds without us having to restrain him. He just asked for peanut butter and meds. 🙂 (Granted, he asked for M&M’s two seconds after getting his meds but I’ll allow that.)

I’m looking forward to a FABULOUS 2017!

7 Quick Takes: Things I Resolve To Do in 2017

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Make healthier choices. I’ll be doing a plank challenge with some friends starting on January 1st and I’ll be trying to hit my college’s gym once I get over this stupid cold. I’m also going to try and cook more of my own food from scratch.

— 2 —

Annoy the crap out of T-Rump and his administration. I have the freedom to petition and I plan on making good use of it. 🙂 All of my favorite petition sites are locked and loaded and I have plans to attend a few protest marches.

— 3 —

Fill out a boatload of scholarship applications. I don’t qualify for grant-based aid because I already have a B.A. and I’d like to get as much of my Accounting program paid for without having to take out loans.

— 4 —

Get through as much of my Accounting program as I can. I am soooo excited for classes to start next week!!! I’m taking the second classes in my Practical Accounting series, a class on records management, and a class on Microsoft Word. The class on Word should be easy but I’ll appreciate that with two other classes.

— 5 —

Participate in Write 31 Days again. I have had so much fun in the last two years of participating in the challenge that I’d really like to do it again.

— 6 —

Finish some crocheting projects. I’d like to start some new projects but that means finishing some other ones first! First on the list to finish: my mom’s Christmas socks from last year.

— 7 —

Not eat any yellow paint. This one is a tribute to my friend Rick. He passed away four years ago and he used to resolve not to eat any [insert color] paint every year.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 25, 2016

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For Today… December 25, 2016

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. We still have some of the snow we got on Friday.

I am thinking… about the coming week and what we’ll be doing with Daniel at home.

I am thankful… for an amazing Christmas Eve Eucharist last night. I definitely arrived home filled with joy at the birth of Christ.

One of my favorite things… NCIS reruns.

I am wearing… jammies. Clothes for today were a long-sleeved black shirt from Lands’ End and jeans from Kohl’s.

I am creating… some socks for my mom.

I am watching… an NCIS rerun where Gibbs returns to his hometown for the first time since he left to join the Marines. I heart Gibbs and Abby.

I am hoping… the pharmacy is open tomorrow so I can get my Effexor refilled.

I am learning… that Patons Kroy Socks Yarn is a pain to unravel.

In my kitchen… shrimp pasta, salad, garlic bread, a homemade gingerbread stout cake, and maple ice cream.

In the school room… Daniel is off until the 3rd.

Post Script… this piece on defeating terrorists with religious extremism is amazing.

Shared Quote… “The movement in our relationship to God is always from God to us. Always. We can’t, through our piety or goodness, move closer to God. God is always coming near to us. Most especially in the Eucharist and in the stranger.” — Nadia Bolz-Weber in Pastorix

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 18, 2016

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For Today… December 18, 2016

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. The wind is howling and it’s in the 30’s. We’ve still got some snow on the ground and we’re hoping that the rain doesn’t freeze and turn to ice as that would make driving even more treacherous.

I am thinking… one of my church kids from Montana who is in a position of having to wait to have her baby because of ITP and platelet issues. I may or may not be in overprotective big sister mode.

I am thankful… for my church choir. Our director/organist couldn’t make it this morning due to the roads being bad so we ended up leading the service and singing everything (including our anthem) acapella. Every member of the choir could be the main soloist in a regular church choir and to have ten such people in the same choir means that we can do some pretty amazing things.

One of my favorite things… episodes of The Big Bang Theory.

I am wearing… jammies. Church clothes were a burgundy shirt, black slacks, and my black boots because of the snow. After church, I switched out the black slacks with jeans.

I am creating… nothing at the moment.

I am listening to… the rain on the windows and the wind outside.

I am hoping… the roads are better tomorrow. I have errands to do and I’d prefer to not be slipping and sliding on the road.

I am learning… my limits.

In my kitchen… scavenging for dinner. We had a gathering for my cousin Sarah on Friday so we decided to just do our own thing for dinner tonight. In my case, it was mac n’ cheese.

Me with Sarah.

In the school room… my kiddo is on break for two weeks.

Post Script… apparently, there is a problem with moose licking salt off of cars in Alberta’s parks.

Shared Quote… “You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you.” — C.S. Lewis

A moment from my day…

My beach boy frolicking in the snow.
FIguring out mittens.
Parka selfie!

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 12, 2016

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For Today…

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… snowing. I’m loving it after 6 years of living in a place without four distinct seasons.

I am thinking… about my appointment tomorrow to get an estimate on my car bumper.

I am thankful… for my boots arriving from L.L. Bean on Friday during the first snowfall that stuck.

One of my favorite things… oatmeal cookies from $tarbux warmed up.

I am wearing… a long-sleeved black shirt, jeans, white Christmas cat socks, and my black boots.

I am creating… nothing right now except this blog post.

I am watching… TBBT re-runs.

I am hoping… they can fix my bumper without me being carless over the weekend.

In my kitchen… Mom made a pot roast last night for Sunday dinner.

In the school room… we just got a progress report on Daniel and he is doing well.

Post Script… my tasoni sister Laura wrote this beautiful piece regarding the bombing at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo. For those who don’t understand how big of a deal this is, imagine someone lobbing a bomb into the Vatican during Mass.

Shared Quote… “Forgiveness ensures our hearts are not entangled in a web of angry resentment or corrupted by hateful revenge; it liberates and empowers.” — Bishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church

A moment from my day… I love my “inferior Anglican Christmas hymns”.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 11, 2016

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For Today… December 11, 2016

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. Weather.Com is saying that it’s 29F here and that snow might be starting soon. I’m kind of excited but wishing that my boots would arrive from L.L. Bean because all I have are my running shoes.

I am thinking… about my Access assessment that I finished last night. After I’m done with this, I’ll proof it and then submit it.

I am thankful… for my shopping trip to Old Navy today. I got some new long-sleeved shirts that should help keep me warm and are in seasonal colors.

One of my favorite things… the Sanctimommy Said What group on Facebook.

I am wearing… jammies. Church clothes were the blue-green fitted tee from Old Navy/black slacks from Kohl’s/black cardi from Kohl’s that I recycled from last night’s Messiah singalong with the Skagit Symphony Chorus.

I am creating… a prayer shawl and some socks for my mommy.

I am listening to… the Classical Holiday channel from DISH Network.

I am hoping… to get a perfect score on my Practical Accounting final tomorrow.  I’ve gotten 98’s on the last three tests and it’s killing me not to get a perfect score yet.  (Why yes… I *AM* Hermione!  How ever did you guess?)

I am learning… random Access things.

In my kitchen… pork fried rice from Haggen that seems to be missing the pork.  So NOT amused.

In the school room… Daniel has a new phrase: “dress for school”.

Post Script… a list of good Christmas carols, even if the versions she picks are occasionally sub-par.

Shared Quote… “Don’t make the same mistakes that everyone else makes. Make wonderful mistakes. Make the kind of mistakes that make people so shocked that they have no other choice but to be a little impressed.” — Jenny Lawson, Furiously Happy

A moment from my day… a Wordle of our recessional hymn today.

Wordle of

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook: November 27, 2016

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For Today… November 27, 2016

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… grey and rainy. I love it.

I am thinking… about the accounting cycle review problem I’m working on. My Trial Balance numbers aren’t right and I’ll be pretty much starting over from scratch once this post is up.

**UPDATE** I GOT IT TO BALANCE!!!!!!

I am thankful… for a good time with family from Wednesday night to Saturday afternoon. My evil twin and his long-suffering wife were up and we had various people over for meals over Thursday and Friday. It was also fun to watch the Apple Cup with them and the UW completely trounced WSU. 🙂 I would have liked Michigan to have annihilated Ohio State but I guess it was an exciting game for those who watched it.

One of my favorite things… grey kittehs, especially the one sitting on my desk.

I am wearing… my indigo v-neck shirt and jeans. Church clothes were the v-neck with a black paisley skirt, my black cardigan, black tights, and my flats. My boots arrive from L.L. Bean tomorrow and I hope they fit!

I am creating… a two-column journal entry on scratch paper to try and work out my errors in the accounting cycle review problem.

I am listening to… the Advent playlist I created for this year.

I am hoping… I can get everything to balance for tomorrow.

I am learning… about employer taxes in my Practical Accounting class. Not too hard.

In my kitchen… leftovers or something.

In the school room… Daniel continues to do well in his program.

Post Script… this piece by Barbara Kingsolver is fabulous.

Shared Quote… “Stop, you all. I know where you all live and I’m not afraid to use you as a sermon illustration.” — a seminary classmate of mine in response to some good-natured teasing on her husband’s Facebook wall.

A moment from my day… The Annunciation/Magnificat portion of Holden Evening Prayer.

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