Week In The Life 2012

This year marks the third time I have participated in Ali Edwards' A Week In The Life project. You can see 2011 here and 2010 here.

I really enjoy the process of taking pictures of everyday life and collecting bits and pieces of the 'stuff' I collect during the week. I also enjoy looking back and comparing where my life was the last time I did it. 2011's week fell at an unusually busy time for me, it was the week after I moved into my condo. This year, my week was fairly typical-no special events, just work and play. However, I noticed thru these pictures that I am becoming even more domestic as time goes on. Most every day was spent at home, doing 'home stuff'. That's kind of new. 

If you are interested, this is what a typical week looks like for me. Please note that I have not edited these pictures at all, I just pulled out a few of my favorites. I wanted to post my thoughts and some notes so I will remember them when I put together an album. Check it out:

Monday:

 

 

 

 

-is typically catch up day for me: to-do lists, laundry, cooking some for the week ahead.

- I was home late teh night before from a weekend trip to see my family in Springfield. That always means extra catchup-mail, newspapers, litter box, etc.

-I had a Groupon for a local produce delivery service, so I came home to a bin full of produce and eggs! They were all really good, but I don't think the service is for me. I got a lot of the same veggies-a whole head of celery, which I rarely eat. However, the eggs..yum! I hard boiled a bunch of them

- I did take a bunch of the produce and cut it up to eat. I heart mango.

Tuesday:

 

 

 

 

-One night a week I work with Amy ,a long time client of mine. We have a pass to the Zoo, and I love love LOVE taking my camera along. I can't believe the peacock let me get so close!

- That giraffe is preggo!

- I want to learn how to use my macro lens and take good flower pictures.

Wednesday:

 

 

 

-I worked from home today. I am really thankful for a job that: I love, keeps me interested and has a really flexible schedule. On this particular morning I was searching for jobs online (for my clients), sending resumes, typing up file stuff, etc. 

- I might be getting a new job soon, and that is both exciting and nervewracking. I have been at the same job for 10 years and I am very comfortable there. I keep trying to remind myself that this new opportunity could be even better!

-I am very in to painting my nails lately. Last night I painted them pale green. I use my pretty nails to hold my coffee.

-I got all geared up to go workout...then somehow ended up going shopping? I am not sure how that happened ; ). I wanted this dresser for my house, but eventually decided against it. Errands also included Target and Walgreens.

Thursday:

 

 

 

-woke up early to go workout before I head off to work. That never happens, but see Wednesday-guilty is
a great motivator!

-Eating lunch in my car. I do this alot. I drive alot for work. This is my favorite veggie wrap from the gym.

-At one of my job sites, a nursing home for retired nuns called Mother House. Beautiful building.

-Tried a new recipe for pad thai. Looks pretty, tastes....well, you can see my review here.

Friday:

 

 

 

-Was one of those days where nothing turned out the way I planned. I spent the morning in the office, then went out to see clients on the job. One had called in sick....two no longer worked on Fridays-oops.

-Went to a matinee of Hunger Games, I have been waiting for a chance to see it-so worth it!

-Went thru pictures from last weekend while watching Fringe, one of my favorite shows right now. Certified Hunk, lol

Saturday: 

 

-Got up VERY early to co host a garage sale with my friend Alicia. She made out like a bandit, I made only $30......boo.

-I finally finished Spring Cleaning 2012. 

- Went o a new restaurant last night: Doc Crow's, yum, yum, yum. The piece de resistance was this bacon sundae. Yes, a bacon sundae. Possible the weirdest and most delicious thing I have ever eaten.

Sunday:

-volunteered at the National Quad Rugby tournament. So much fun. These guys are bad asses!

-nap time

-Sundays are also for: catching up on the DVR, reading, cooking.

If you have stuck around this long, thanks! I hope that my week was entertaining to you-haha! My life is soooo glamourous! 

I'll be back soon to share the album with my pictures and all the other stuff in it. Did you do WITL? Show me!

Later,

Michelle

Vegetable Tofu Pad Thai- Recipe 2 of 12

For my second new recipe for 2012 I tried to recreate one of my FAVORITE Oriental dishes-Pad Thai. I used this recipe from Martha Stewart Everyday Food: Vegetable and Tofu Pad Thai

I wanted to tackle my phobia/aversion to oriental cooking, learn how to cook tofu properly, and try something with a ton of ingredients. This recipe satisfied all those condition. However, I wasn't overly thrilled with the result. I even tried cooking it a second time, but I still didn't like it. Here's what I learned:

{COOKING WITH TOFU}

Tofu is one my go-to meal additions. I am not a vegetarian, but my cooking skills are pretty much limited to chicken and fish. I don't  really like red meat, and I have been unsuccessful in cooking most pork, so I leave that to the restaurant set. I cook a lot o tofu, but it usually turned out too squishy and watery, or burnt if I tried to cook it too long. Tofu comes in a plastic tub covered in water, which I would drain off. 

Shout out to Pintrest for randomly showing me a link called "Tips for Cooking Tofu" (sorry, I can't find the link again-I didn't pin it??) The site talked about getting all the water out of the tofu before you cook it. It explained that you should take the large brick of tofu and slice it in half lengthwise. Picture two wide decks of playing cards. Then take each half and press it between 2 paper towels. Press gently so it doesn't stick, and they should look like rectangular pancakes-maybe an inch thick?

OMG that made a HUGE difference! Each little cubed turned out brown and firm, just like in a restaurant! I have a feeling this is one of those things that everyone else but me knows....if it is-don't burst my bubble, ok?  I felt pretty smart after trying it ; ).

Isn't it pretty?

{COOKING RICE NOODLES}

My pasta cooking skills are pretty good, but I had never tried to cook rice noodles (or any other kind of noodle-egg, tofu, quinoa......for goodness sakes). Actually, I figured it was pretty much the same, so I boiled the water, stirred the noodles until good and tender, drained, rinsed. What I ended up with was very overcooked clumps of noodles I cut with a fork.....um, what?

So, then I read the directions...........duh. To save you the pain of eating clumpy, tough noodles with no sauce on them, this is the gist. Boil water, add noodles, stir for about 5 mins, drain, rinse. My friend Tiffany says she actually boils the water, removes form heat, then soaks the noodles for about 7-10 mins and hers turn out great each time. I'm pretty sure this might be something everyone else knows too........you're welcome.

 

{FINISHED DISH}

 I modified the recipe only slightly, I added a TBSP of fish sauce, because it didn't call for any and I thoughts that was weird. Something was off about the sauce, but I can't put my finger on it. It was too sour or something. I made this with Tiffany and she couldn't put her finger on it either. I don't think I'll be making it again.

Thanks for stopping by! 

I'm currently in the market for a great Pad Thai recipe, so if you have one-link me up!

Later,

Michelle

Good Reads

I wouldn't call myself a 'voracious' reader. I have many friends who ready dozens of books a year, sometimes more than one at a time. They have varied interests, and love talking about books. My interest in books ebbs and flows. I can go months without reading anything more than a magazine. Sometimes I have a big stack on my bedside table.  I also seem to be easily swayed-I see someone online gushing about an author or I hear about a really great upcoming movie based on a book (ahem, Hunger Games) and I can't wait to read it and know what everyone is talking about.

Lately, I have been on a kick. Not only have I READ several great books, but I have downloaded audiobooks like crazy. I have always loved a good audiobook-not only for long car rides, but also for cleaning days or crafting days. Sometimes I can get totally lost listening to a great actor reading a really engaging story.

I thought I would share a few of my favorite recent reads/listens. Vacation time will be hear before you know it. Better to be prepared:

{BOOKS}

-The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.
. He was such a powerful and engaging writer. This is accounts of his life totally compiled from letters, speeches and articles he wrote. If you are a history person, so worth the read.

-Dirty Sexy Politics
. I am only half way through, but so far, so great. Her perspective on the election process is so interesting. She puts into words that struggle of being a twenty something and figuring out who you are and what you believe. People assume she is just like her famous father, and in some ways she is. But, in most ways, she is just like a lot of us at that age-forming our own opinion and making our own mistakes.

-Explosive Eighteen: A Stephanie Plum Novel (Stephanie Plum Novels)
. This is  the latest book by one of my favorite authors. The Stephanie Plum novels are some of my all time favorites and some of the only books I will read more than once. They are HILARIOUS. Easy reads, pure fluff. Anytime someone needs a vacation recommendation, I always recommend a novel from this series.

{AUDIOBOOKS}

-The Hunger Games Trilogy Boxed Set
. Yep, that sound you hear was me jumping on  the bandwagon. My nephew raved about them and we have a long standing love affair with the Harry Potter series, so I knew I would like them. I'm glad I listened to them, I could sneak in an hour here and there. By the end I got a little tired of the young adult language, but overall I thought the story was so creative and really drew me in. I can't wait to see the movie (side note: Jennifer Lawrence who plays Katniss is from Louisville. This movie has been all over the media here. That might have helped really pique my interest.)

-Commencement (Vintage Contemporaries)
. This story is perfect for anyone my age who reminisces about her college days. Put into words that awkward phase in your life when you change at a breakneck pace and how friendships that were your whole world in college change (and sometimes fall apart). I saw myself so much in the characters.

- Alex Cross Novels, James Patterson
. Not new books, but new to me. I started at the first one and am making my way through them all. I LOVE the Crass characters! They are murder mysteries, but Alex Cross is so a  complex character, each novel is fresh (not just like watching another episode of CSI, know what I mean?)

-Next up?Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
, I have heard great things about his author, I can only imagine hearing someone read about the president killing vampire is going to be EPIC. And, yes, I decided to read it after hearing about the upcoming movie. ; )

I find alot of my audiobooks from the library, and on a site called Audible.com. The price can add up, so I try to get most of them from the library, which luckily, is getting even easier.

Looking for recommendations from your friends? Well, there's an app for that- Good Reads. I just started using it, so I have no idea if it's any good-I'll get back to you!

Whats the last book you read that you loved?? Do tell!

Michelle