Due the fact that I haven't been able to breathe normally or finish many sentences without a series of sneezes or sniffling for over a month, I booked myself an appointment with an allergist.
Survey says: After 15 minutes of trauma (it was just as bad as when I was little), the doctor came back in and said my mountain cedar spot was "one of the strongest reactions I've ever seen" (letter D area in above pic). AWESOME. While I do like to excel at things, having such strong allergies is not one of them. I think shots are on the way, but we're gonna try the strongest medicine on the market for a month first.
Thank goodness I have learned lots of relaxation techniques in my counseling classes...I got really close, twice, to calling out for help. I was certain that my itching-which actually felt more like stinging-was some sort of freak reaction. Tropical beach and warm sand...check.
Ahhhh, what a great weekend I have had...and I still have one more day!! Woohoo MLK! Last night my favorite and closest 15 friends met at Gloria's for an early birthday dinner. I had called HOURS ahead of time to get us on "the list" since they don't take reservations and we were a pretty large group. Well, after about an hour of us all waiting around and feeling like sardines with the rest of the people waiting for tables, Jay and Emily decided to go regulate on the hostesses. I think the hostesses just wanted them to go away so they said it would be just a few more minutes. Looking around, we knew that was a complete lie as there were no available tables in sight. Freddie tried to go talk Spanish or something to them to try and get us bumped up, but to no avail. Then Jay got frustrated and told the hostesses we were leaving. Um, I still had a good 3/4 of my delicious mojito in hand. And I was annoyed that we had waited for so long and would have been waiting for way longer. We decided to go across the street to La Familia where they could seat us right away. There was just one problem....my mojito. I had on my favorite wrap sweater, so I just tucked my mojito into it and we walked to Emily's car. It was my birthday! Anyway, Smalls helped me finish it in the 25 second drive over to La Familia and now I have a cool glass as a parting gift.
I have some of the very best friends in the world. They each made sure I had a fun night during what has been a less than easy time. One in particular (Emily) seems to have recently taken a liking to cake decorating. Since it's hard to tell from the picture, the scene is a shaved-head Britney Spears hitting the paparazzi car with an umbrella...do you remember that picture? Google it if not. It's one of my favorites. Emily also put her favorite Britney song title on the cake, but I cannot write what it is. And my New Year's resolution to take more pictures....well, I'm pretty much failing miserably at it! I have a picture of only 2 people who were with us last night...perhaps I should have planned a different resolution....
I had good intentions to blog about my super fun weekend, but time has gotten away from me! For a recap of my SUPER fun, I-want-to-do-that-every-weekend (well, maybe....), Friday night, visit Meredeth's blog...my famous words were the title for that blog. I definitely checked one thing off my to do list... :) As for Saturday, I met up with MJ, Suz, and Emily for a late Christmas exchange and dinner. We ate some yummy Mexican food, watching some new wrestling moves, analyzed life-ish things, and just laughed a lot-which is what we're good at! I love those girls!!!
I got my new bedding which I'm semi-obsessed with. I can't wait to put it all together. Speaking of, I got my llaves for the neuvo casa. :)
First week of classes at TCU-done. Not sure how I feel about my Monday class (Assessment). Pretty sure I'll love Tuesdays (DSM)...I'll be diagnosing all of you with all kinds of disorders as the semester progresses. Get excited!
Um, Simon is back. Oh how I have missed his "That was a horrible audition...worst thing I've ever heard...who tells you are a good singer?....you're finished." He's paused right now on the DVR so I don't miss a minute of his sweet face.
On to the recipes:
Pineapple-Stuffed Jerk Chicken (serves 8) 2 tablespoons dried thyme 2 teaspoons ground allspice 1/2 to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 3 tablespoons sugar Coarse salt and ground pepper 2 cans (20 ounces each) pineapple chunks in juice, drained 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 4 scallions, thinly sliced 8 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (6 to 8 ounces each) 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, such as safflower Cooked rice, for serving
In a small bowl, combine thyme, allspice, cayenne, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; set spice mixture aside. In a medium bowl, stir together pineapple, lime juice, scallions, and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Season stuffing with salt and pepper, and set aside. Lay chicken flat on a work surface. With a paring knife, cut a 2-inch-long slit in the thick side of each breast; insert knife, and pivot inside chicken without enlarging opening, carefully forming a deep pocket (make sure not to pierce the opposite side). Dividing evenly, tightly pack each breast with stuffing; rub exterior with oil, and sprinkle with spice mixture. Heat broiler, with rack set 4 inches from heat. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil; arrange chicken on sheet. Broil until chicken is opaque throughout and an instant-read thermometer inserted into stuffing reads 165, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve stuffed chicken with rice.
*I cut the recipe in half and only used 4 chicken breasts. This is pretty tasty and definitely fresh with the pineapple. I used some tasty brown rice courtesy of my twin.
Hummus and Vegetable Wrap 1 wrap or large tortilla hummus 1/2 of a yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced 1 plum tomato, seeded and thinly sliced alfalfa sprouts 1/4 avocado, thinly sliced
Spread hummus on wrap, leaving a one-inch border all around. Mound all ingredients in the center and then....wrap it up! SOOOOO tasty and fresh-tasting!! I highly recommend this one when you're brown baggin' it. :)
This is by far the happiest day I have had in quite some time! I had applied over the summer to start volunteering at Cook Children's Hospital. I never heard back from them, so of course I started playing worst-case scenario. I'm really, really good at that game, by the way. I could have called and checked the status of my application, but time got away from me and I sort of didn't want to get rejected over the phone, so I never called. Fast forward to a few days after Christmas. I got a letter from them saying they'd sent me an email but never heard back from me and still wanted to interview if I was interested. Most certainly!! I contacted the volunteer director immediately and she offered to meet this afternoon.
She asked some standard interview-ish questions about personality strengths, why I was interested, etc... On the sheet I had filled out months ago, I had indicated that I was interested in the Child Life area and the babies. Well....she has a spot with the little bitties (0-3 yrs.) DOING Child Life stuff!! Hello-fate, much?? Needless to say, I had to tell myself not to cry tears of joy in front of this stranger....she may revoke the position after seeing my craziness. I will report and work with the Child Life specialists and the CL director. My "duties/opportunities" will be reading to the tinies, doing small art projects with them, taking them to the play rooms, and just rocking them. If you know me, then you understand how obsessed I will likely become with this-I am more than obsessed with babies! Also if you know me, then you know how disappointed/depressed I was about not being able to do Child Life (go read about it in my June or July posts if you feel so inclined).
I feel so blessed and fortunate that this has all worked out the way it has. I go to an orientation in about 2 weeks, then take a TB test (I can't remember if that involves a needle...does it???). After that, watch out babies because I might not ever put you down.
1 cup long-grain white rice 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, such as safflower 1 medium onion, minced 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped Coarse salt and ground pepper 1 tablespoon curry powder, plus more for garnish 1 teaspoon ground ginger 3 cups homemade or best-quality store-bought tomato sauce 2 cans (15 ounces each) chickpeas, rinsed and drained 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, plus lime wedges for garnish 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
Cook rice according to package instructions; cover, and keep warm. While rice is cooking, heat oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add onion and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until onion is tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Add curry powder and ginger; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add tomato sauce, chickpeas, and 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in lime juice; season with salt and pepper. Serve stew with rice and yogurt, garnished with lime wedges and a pinch of curry.
*I omitted the ginger because that is a flavor I could really live without. I also used quinoa instead of rice because I love it. This is surprisingly filling....easy, too!
Someone above has definitely had a hand around my shoulder recently. I have had a really wonderful, fun, and relaxing week. I had been worried about being bored which leads to moping which leads to frustration. Not so much. From Chimy's happy hour, to spending the day in Dallas curled up on the couch and eating black eyed peas, to lunch and checking out the new TCU with a friend who was in town, to hanging out with friends for their "Puerto Rico" party with all the Puerto Rican liquor they brought back from their honeymoon, to the walks I look forward to with one of my dearest friends...I have been far from bored. More like blessed. Friends and landlords, family and strangers have been more accommodating and comforting than they know. They're all helping to heal my little heart together.
Jealous? 
