Julie and Juila: An inspiration

This is something my 16 year old self would never believe I am saying now. I love to cook. There is something special about food. About sharing a meal together. Jesus did it with his disciples, the early church did it and today it is one of the main social activities we do. It's such an odd thing really..it's one of the grossest things we do, but that doesn't change the fact that there is something to eating with one another. And we might as well eat well right? :)

 I love the process of cooking, it's soothing. I love the smells and the sounds. I love the outcome. I love making a presentation out of the plate and that first bite. It makes it so much better when you have someone to cook for. When they enjoy it and let you know. I don't even mind the clean up.

I am sitting in my bed watching Juile and Julia and really really realizing how much I love it. I want to be able to make those delicious looking things and throw amazing dinner parties.

I guess you just take it one recipe at a time. But I do believe that while I have more time than I may ever have again in my life I will devote more of it to cooking new things and mastering the meals I already love.

Trying new recipes and finding new meals I love is such a fun adventure. So, if any of you have any amazing recipes that you love I would love to know them and give them a try! So send them my way!!

All of this cooking will have to start tomorrow though. It's time for bed. I will go and dream of fancy meals and wonderful wine around a table with friends.

Funk

I read a post similar to the one I am about to post over at I Love You To the  Moon. Funny, I was planning on blogging about this earlier today and then read her post. Anyway..let's get on with it.

I have had one of those weeks. You know the ones. I have been in such a funk, and I know exactly why, but knowing why doesn't always make it easier to get out of it. I have been a grey cloud and have cried at random times for no reason and I have slept horribly and eaten poorly and haven't exercised.I have beat myself up about it, which has made everything worse.
But you know what?
It's ok.
It's ok to have a bad day .
It's ok to not be perfect with my workouts or my diet.
It's ok to cry ( but if you randomly start crying around your boyfriend be sure to inform him that it wasn't his fault....)
It is not ok, however to beat myself up or to dwell on those feelings. So I choose to let them go. To take a deep breath and close my eyes and count my blessings and be so thankful for the life I have. It's pretty impossible to be sad when you are being thankful.
And if that doesn't work...
I will remember that MY MOMMA is coming to visit me tomorrow for the weekend! That is reason enough for that funk to get to gettin.

one year later

A year. 365 days.
Amazing things can happen in that amount of time.
You can meet someone
Become friends, best friends
Have heart ache and tears and frustration
Let go of your fears and take a chance
Fall in love. More in love than you thought possible
Learn someone. And have them learn you.
Discover what it means that "relationships are work"
Have someone to plan the future with, to hold you when another door closes and the tears come
To have them say "We're in this together"
All of these things you never imagined would be happening to you just one short year ago.
It makes your mind wonder, "what new gift will I come across today, or tomorrow?"
 or
"what gift have I already come across but don't realize it yet?" 

Life is such an adventure. And I am so thankful I have someone to come along for the ride. 

Happy Times

Things that made me happy lately:

A favorite summer drink   

New fun hair 

Some frozen yogurt and free music in the park 

Grilling out with my man after he was gone all weekend  

A dress that makes me feel pretty 

Happy tunes 

A nice long bubble bath 

An afternoon by the pool